Abstract
OBJECTIVES: The structure, process, and outcomes associated with planning, developing, and offering an interprofessional course on the foundations of patient safety is described, including how organizational, structural, cultural, and attitudinal barriers were overcome. METHODS: Seventeen faculty members from 7 colleges and schools and medical center participated-from the fields of decision sciences and systems, dentistry, medicine, law, nursing, occupational therapy, pharmacy, physical therapy, social work, health care administration, and outcomes management in health systems. Student assessment included theme analysis of open-ended questions, descriptive analysis of multiple- response option questionnaires, and criterion-based assessment of student performance on case studies. Triangulation of student comments, final course evaluation, and student performance evaluations were performed to learn overarching themes of student experience with the course. RESULTS: The students learned a different way of thinking, found the instructional design and active learning methods useful to learning, and felt prepared to solve problems in the future. Students believed that the content was an essential core knowledge for all health professionals (87%) and should be required for all health professions students (78%). Students achieved an application level of learning (77%) within the cognitive domain and the valuing level within the affective domain. Students agree (96%) that they can define and apply the basic principles and tenets of patient safety, including identification of tools needed to work effectively within the health system and to improve safety and strongly agree (100%) that they value patient safety as a professional practice framework. CONCLUSION: The universitywide implementation case may offer important lessons to others nationally in health care education.