TCOM surpasses 1,000 students to pass CCPS certification

[Link]On Nov. 9, 2024, the Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine at The University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth reached another milestone in its illustrious history as the 1,000th TCOM student passed the Certified Professional in Patient Safety™ exam and earn the CPPS credential. In just four short years, TCOM has brought patient safety to the forefront by melding this course into the medical school curriculum.

As of Nov. 10, 1,009 students have passed the exam since the inception of the TCOM Patient Safety Course in July 2020.

"I am very proud of our students and faculty for achieving this amazing milestone," said Albert Yurvait DO, PhD, DSc(hc), DFACOS, FICS, FAHA, CPPS, TCOM's director of medical education and health system sciences. "UNTHSC was committed to supporting this initiative many years ago, starting with Chancellor Michael Williams and past dean, Dr. Frank Filipetto. What Dr. Gelinas has done is simply amazing and she has made TCOM the leader in patient safety across the world."

TCOM is the first and only medical school in the nation to offer a course that includes the CPPS review course content and exam medical education. The innovative curriculum was developed by Janet Lieto, DO, FACOFP, CMD, CPPS and Lillee Gelinas, DNP, RN, CPPS, FNAP, FAAN as part of the "Professional Identity and Health Systems Practice Course" to address a burgeoning problem within the health care system.

"Such an incredible achievement by these students who work so hard in this course to master patient safety content," Gelinas said. "They are changing the way health care is delivered by modeling the professionalism and safe practices needed today in a world where medical error is one of the leading causes of preventable death. The CPPSTM credential represents a rigorous and comprehensive certification process that attests to patient safety competencies and expertise in safety science, human factors engineering, and the practice of safe care. I am proud to be a part of the TCOM faculty who strive for the best care, for every patient every day. Our patients deserve nothing less."

The Certified Professional in Patient Safety credential is earned by professionals who have demonstrated a high level of proficiency in the core standards of patient safety, benchmarks requirements necessary for health care professionals, and sets an expected proficiency level. More than 7,000 professionals have earned the CPPS credential, representing all 50 U.S. states and 30 countries.

Patient Safety Certification is awarded by the Certification Board for Professionals in Patient Safety, the only interprofessional and internationally recognized certification specific to the field of patient safety. The Certification Exam is administered and CPPS credential is awarded by the Certification Board for Professionals in Patient Safety.

TCOM is the only U.S. medical school whose curriculum includes the mandatory Patient Safety Course, concluding with Patient Safety Certification awarded by the Certification Board for Professionals in Patient Safety. TCOM collaborates with the Institute for Healthcare Improvement and CBPPS whose support and resources are invaluable parts of the Patient Safety Course.

With certification, TCOM graduates are well-prepared to meet the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education Patient Safety and Quality Improvement milestones. The Milestones are competency-based developmental outcomes (e.g., knowledge, skills, attitudes and performance) that can be demonstrated progressively by residents/fellows from the beginning of their education through graduation to the unsupervised practice of their specialties. Residents are assessed twice a year based on the milestones.

The TCOM Patient Safety Course addresses the milestones related to the Systems-Based Practice Core Competency: Patient Safety and Quality Improvement. In their first year of residency, TCOM graduates are demonstrating high levels of performance.

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