APS Launches Second Annual California Patient Safety Initiative, Providing Expanded Online Education for Hospitals and Clinician

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Free-Press-Release.com) October 13, 2009 -- Boston, MA, October 13, 2009 -- Advanced Practiced Strategies (APS), a leading provider of online education solutions for patient safety, today announced the launch of its Second Annual California Patient Safety Initiative. The statewide initiative enables hospitals to access APS’s best-in-class online patient safety education at significant savings by joining together with other regional hospitals to achieve a combined volume discount.

The 2009 initiative builds on the success of last year’s Perinatal Safety Initiative, through which 3,000 doctors and nurses at nearly 60 hospitals throughout the state received a 38% discount on education focusing on the primary drivers of obstetrical risk. Course subjects included electronic fetal heart monitoring (EFM), shoulder dystocia, operative vaginal delivery, and SBAR+R Communications.

The 2009 Initiative expands the course offerings to encompass additional areas of risk, including surgery, safe prescribing practices, and chronic pain management. The Initiative also includes additional courses in the perinatal area, such as postpartum hemorrhage and competency maintenance in EFM.

“In spite of challenging times, hospitals in California have shown tremendous commitment to improving patient care by partnering with us in last year’s Perinatal Safety Initiative, and feedback has been tremendously positive,” said Dennis Ferrill, CEO of APS. “By expanding the Initiative, we can respond more fully to the patient safety needs of California hospitals, while also making the education accessible to as many clinicians in as possible, regardless of size or budget constraints.”

The APS Perinatal Safety Courses have delivered proven results as part of a multifaceted approach to risk management. Hospital Corporation of America has reduced its perinatal claims by over 48% by adopting a comprehensive national safety initiative featuring APS perinatal education.

Beta Healthcare Group (BHG), the largest medical malpractice carrier in California, launched an incentive campaign during the 2008 Initiative providing 5% premium discounts to hospitals committed to completing their OB Initiative, which included perinatal safety courses, while also covering 50% of the course costs for participating hospitals. Based on the success of that program, BHG will extend the incentive to additional hospitals taking part in the 2009 Initiative, as well as expand the breadth of the courses included.

"BHG is committed to providing our hospitals with access to the best patient safety training resources available, and APS's quality of content, use of graphics, and interactive learning design really is the gold standard," said Annie Herlik, RN, JD, CPHRM, Vice President of Risk Management at Beta Healthcare Group. "Feedback from clinicians has been overwhelmingly positive, so we're very excited to expand the initiative to more hospitals in 2009 and to offer more course content, such as Postpartum Hemorrhage."

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