SHM Converge Scientific Abstract ePoster Gallery-Being Open: Changing the Culture Around Error Disclosure

Pdf Summary

Northwell Health describes a broad mission to improve community health through high-quality clinical care, education, biomedical research, and health education, while caring for all people regardless of ability to pay. The organization operates 23 hospitals and more than 700 outpatient facilities, and includes major educational and research programs such as the Feinstein Institute for Medical Research and the Zucker School of Medicine.<br /><br />The featured project, “Being Open: Changing the Culture Around Error Disclosure,” was developed by Geeta Malieckal, MD, and Rebecca Dougherty, MD, to address a major gap in medical education: training clinicians to disclose errors effectively. The curriculum is based on the idea that medical error is a leading cause of death, yet current interventions often focus only after an incident, and disclosure remains a professional responsibility that is not adequately taught.<br /><br />The workshop aimed to build a culture of safety by helping physicians and other healthcare team members recognize, disclose, and prevent errors, while also supporting colleagues after adverse events. Learning objectives included defining psychological safety, describing the components of error disclosure, practicing disclosure skills, and learning how to support a colleague involved in an error.<br /><br />The intervention consisted of three hybrid 1-hour workshops for medical students, residents, attendings, and non-physician providers. Participants completed pre- and post-intervention surveys measuring confidence in error disclosure and peer support. Seventy-two people were surveyed; the pre-survey response rate was 86.11% and the post-survey response rate was 44.44%.<br /><br />Results showed that although most participants agreed error disclosure is essential, confidence in doing it remained limited. Specific gaps were identified in recognizing errors, understanding the need for apology, and offering peer support. Overall, the curriculum was well received and viewed as a valuable way to improve patient safety, physician confidence, and team support.

Asset Subtitle

Geeta Malieckal

Meta Tag

Author List Geeta Malieckal, Rebecca H. Dougherty

Category Innovations

Concept Psychological Safety

Concept Medical Error Disclosure

Concept Error

Concept Patient-Family Communication

Concept Apology

Distinguished Non-Finalist

Presenter Organization North Shore University Hospital

Presenting Author Geeta Malieckal

Track Patient Safety

Keywords

Northwell Health

medical error disclosure

patient safety

psychological safety

clinical education

healthcare training

error disclosure curriculum

physician confidence

peer support

medical education

Psychological Safety

Medical Error Disclosure

Error

Patient-Family Communication

Apology