title: Training a patient safety work force: the patient safety improvement corps.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Evaluate short-term effects of the Patient Safety Improvement Corps (PSIC), an Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality–sponsored program to train state teams in patient safety skills/tools, to assess its contribution to building a national infrastructure supporting effective patient safety practices.
  
  
  METHODS
  Self-reported information gathered from (1) group interviews at the end of each year; (2) individual telephone interviews 1 year later; (3) faxed information forms 2 years later.
  
  
  METHODS
  Program evaluation of immediate and short-term process and impact (use of skills/tools, information sharing, changes in practice).
  
  
  METHODS
  Semistructured interviews; faxed forms.
  
  
  RESULTS
  One year after training, approximately half of Year 1 and 2 state agency representatives reported they had initiated or modified legislation to strengthen safe practices, and modified adverse event oversight procedures. Approximately three-quarters of hospital representatives said training contributed to modifications to adverse event oversight procedures and promotion of patient safety culture. Two years posttraining, approximately three-quarters of Year 1 trainees said they continued to use many skills/tools.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The PSIC contributed to building a national infrastructure supporting effective patient safety practices. Expanded training is needed to reach a larger fraction of the population for which this training is important.
authors: Policy Researcher, RAND Health, 1776 Main Street, PO Box 2138, Santa Monica, CA 90407-2138, USA. teleki@rand.org
authors: Stephanie S
authors: SS
authors: Teleki
authors: Cheryl L
authors: CL
authors: Damberg
authors: Melony E S
authors: ME
authors: Sorbero
authors: Rebecca N
authors: RN
authors: Shaw
authors: Lily A
authors: LA
authors: Bradley
authors: Denise D
authors: DD
authors: Quigley
authors: Allen M
authors: AM
authors: Fremont
authors: Donna O
authors: DO
authors: Farley
mesh_terms: D019538:Health Care Surveys / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D033181:Information Dissemination; D019300:Medical Errors / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010043:Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000458:organization & administration*; D015397:Program Evaluation; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D058996:Quality Improvement / Q000458:organization & administration*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D017751:Safety Management / Q000458:organization & administration*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D016270:United States Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality