The IHI Open School is an innovative learning community where you can take free online courses, earn certificates, network with peers and experts, and gain confidence and skills in quality improvement and patient safety to change health care. Receive our newsletter from a friend? Click here to sign up.
You might think we do a pretty good job of providing care to individuals with illnesses and diseases. And, by and large, we do. But it’s important to take a step back and consider the factors contributing to illness. In our updated course on the IHI Triple Aim, you’ll learn that to combat the biggest threats to human health, it’s not enough to improve clinical care for one patient at a time. We also have to focus on improving the health of entire populations while also reducing costs.
Are surgical caps a threat to patient safety? It depends who you ask. The Association of periOperative Registered Nurses believes surgical caps don’t cover surgeons’ hair as effectively as bouffants. They say: “Wearing a particular head covering based on its symbolism is not evidence-based, and should not be a basis for a nationwide practice recommendation.’’ Meanwhile, the American College of Surgeons defends the caps, citing “professionalism, common-sense, decorum, and the available evidence.” Read more about the feud in the Boston Globe, and learn more about strengthening interprofessional relationships in our course QI 105: Leading Quality Improvement.
David R. Calkins (1948–2006), MD, MPP, was a physician, teacher, and health care improvement champion. Each year, IHI awards the David Calkins Memorial Scholarship to one student who demonstrates a strong interest in health care improvement. The Calkins Scholarship covers the cost of enrollment and up to $1,000 in expenses for IHI’s 28th Annual National Forum in Orlando, Florida from December 4–7, 2016. Apply by October 15.
