Failure to Rescue a Recurring Post-Surgical Event (Claims Corner CME) - Activity ID 3302

Course Instructions

Monday, January 1, 2024, 12:00 AM - Sunday, May 31, 2026, 12:00 AM


AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ (0.50 hours), Contact Hours (ANCC) (0.50 hours), Non-Physician Attendance (0.50 hours)

Claims arising from the perioperative experience are frequent, often preventable, and some of the costliest claims for physicians. One study of surgical claims conducted by The Doctors Company noted that about two out of three general surgeons have been involved in a medical malpractice suit. Malpractice data consistently finds that the most serious and common post-operative complications are unrecognized intestinal puncture or perforation. Diagnostic error by surgeons involving unrecognized intestinal puncture or perforation of an organ can quickly lead to septic shock and death. Failure to rescue (FTR), a publicly reported quality measure, is the occurrence of mortality after a major surgical complication. FTR can occur when communication between providers and with patients is poor, there are delays in the recognition of post-operative complications and/or when there is mismanagement of a complication by the clinical team. The following case illustrates a cascade of events that led to FTR. It highlights the need for clear communication, recognition and exchange of clinical findings and impressions, and collaboration between clinicians during intra and inter-hospital transfers.

Learning Objectives apply to all professions.  

Learners will demonstrate their knowledge regarding critical handoff communication techniques during interhospital and post-hospital care transfers to improve patient safety by scoring 80% or higher on the post test.  

To obtain credit and a certificate of completion, learners must score 80% or higher on a post-test and complete a program evaluation.

1. Reflect on your experience and how a delayed or missed diagnosis of a surgical complication could have led to failure to rescue in the surgical patient or a catastrophic result.
2. Modify diagnostic processing and expand the differential diagnosis to decrease the risks of missed or delayed diagnosis in the perioperative setting.
3. Evaluate key factors related to communication at transitions of care that led to a failure to establish a diagnosis.

Continuing Education Credit

The Doctors Company is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical educational activities for physicians. The Doctors Company designates this activity for a maximum of 0.5 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

 

ANCC - Accreditation and Disclosure Statement

The Doctors Company is accredited as a provider of nursing continuing professional development by the American Nurses Credentialing Center's Commission on Accreditation. The Doctors Company designates this activity for a maximum of 0.5 nursing contact hours. Learners should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Disclaimer
The information and guidelines contained in this activity are generalized and may not apply to all practice situations. We recommend that legal advice be obtained from a qualified attorney for specific application to your practice. The information is intended for educational purposes and should be used as a reference guide only.

State Requirements for Continuing Education
Please see your state licensing organization for continuing education requirements for your profession and specialty.

Accessibility
The Doctors Company is committed to ensuring that its programs, services, goods, and facilities are accessible to individuals with disabilities as specified under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Amendments Act of 2008. If you have needs that require special accommodation, please contact the program coordinator or our CPE Coordinator.

Mitigation of Relevant Financial Relationships

No individual in a position to influence the content of this program has disclosed ineligible financial relationships with commercial interests.