Interclerkship Day number FIVE

Happy New Year and let's make it a great 08!!On January 7th our Department will sponsor the Fifth Annual Jefferson Medical College Interclerkship Day on Patient Safety. This is a unique program in the nation where we bring the entire Third Year Medical College Class, all 255 students, to an offsite hotel and spend the day talking and learning about their role in improving patient safety. With the help of famous speakers like John Nance from ABC news and other faculty, we review the recent literature on patient safety and we give specific examples as to how Third Year Students can participate in the hard work of improving medical care. We have previously published our experience with this program in the American Journal of Medical Quality. Most Third Year Students, even with just six months of clinical experience, have seen a medical error occur or at least a near miss.They have seen obusive behaviours by their more senior colleagues, and they have been reluctant to speak up. Our program, focusing on the tenets of Crew Resource Management, helps them to overcome their fears and to make a difference for patients. I am proud of our entire Department and hope that these kinds of programs will make a difference in the future. What do you all think??? DAVID NASH