JCR and Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Partner to Develop Communication Training for Nurses, Physicians
Joint Commission Resources (JCR) is in receipt of a grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation to develop a training series that will help nurses and medical staff members improve patient safety through better communication. JCR is an affiliate of Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations.
“Communication breakdowns are the most frequently cited causes of errors in health care,” says Karen H. Timmons, CEO, JCR. “When there are breakdowns in communication between and amongst health care professionals regarding the care provided to patients, it can be devastating for the patient and his or her family. This Robert Wood Johnson Foundation-funded project will result in a practical training tool that can make a difference in creating safer work environments and improving patient safety.”
The Joint Commission Sentinel Event database shows that communication is cited as a root cause in nearly 70 percent of reported sentinel events, surpassing other commonly identified issues such as staff orientation and training, patient assessment and staffing.
The JCR project will develop educational materials for nurses, physicians and other clinical professionals to encourage effective communication within their respective disciplines and across professions. The communication training series will include presentation materials, trainer guidelines, group- and individual-participant materials, and video scenarios about patient safety. The series, which is expected to be available for use in hospitals by the fall of 2008, will also include a website featuring a bulletin-board system and downloadable resources.
JCR was selected to create the training series based on its recognized patient safety expertise. JCR is dedicated to helping health care organizations improve quality and safety through education programs, publications and good practice information.
For more information about the communication training series or to learn how your organization can participate, please contact Debra Bachman-Zabloudil, project director, at 630/782.9136.