This educational activity is designed to address gaps in psychiatrists’ application of patient safety principles in clinical practice. Variability in identifying risk factors, conducting comprehensive assessments, and implementing evidence-based interventions can contribute to adverse patient outcomes in psychiatric settings.
This course provides an overview of key patient safety concepts in psychiatry, including identification of risk factors, structured risk assessment approaches, and appropriate intervention strategies. Through this activity, psychiatrists will enhance their knowledge and competence in applying patient safety principles to support clinical decision-making and improve the quality and safety of patient care.
Format
Recorded lectures, non-interactive, self-paced distance learning activity.
Learning Objectives
1. Apply patient safety principles and systems-based approaches in psychiatric practice.
2. Utilize quality improvement frameworks and performance measures to enhance care delivery.
3. Conduct evidence-based risk assessments and implement interventions to reduce harm.
4. Integrate teamwork, communication, and cultural competence into patient safety strategies.
Improve safety through medication management, environmental awareness, and health IT utilization.
Curriculum Outline
Module 1: Foundations of Patient Safety
- Define patient safety
- Categorize types of errors and their impact on psychiatric practice
- Apply tools for maintaining safety, including culture of safety, systems thinking, fishbone diagrams, and root cause analysis
Module 2: Quality Improvement and Measurement
- Identify types and sources of healthcare performance measures
- Explain the role of measurement in quality improvement
- Describe core QI frameworks and tools (LEAN, Six Sigma, PDSA)
- Recognize real-world applications of QI
Module 3: Suicide Prevention and Postvention
- Review suicide epidemiology and clinical implications
- Apply evidence-based screening and assessment tools
- Develop effective safety plans, including during transitions of care
- Process adverse patient outcomes in clinical practice
Module 4: Behavioral Emergencies and De-escalation
- Identify early warning signs of escalating aggression
- Apply evidence-based de-escalation and risk mitigation strategies
- Implement safety protocols for patients, staff, and visitors
- Recognize the psychological impact of aggression on healthcare workers
Module 5: Fall Prevention in Psychiatric Settings
- Describe the impact of falls
- Identify common fall risk factors
- Apply validated fall risk assessment tools
- Implement prevention strategies in inpatient and outpatient settings
Module 6: Environment of Care and Safety
- Define Environment of Care in psychiatry
- Identify environmental risks (self-harm, elopement, aggression)
- Apply environmental risk assessment and mitigation strategies
- Recognize the influence of physical, social, and cultural factors
Module 7: Medication Safety in Psychiatry
- Identify high-risk psychiatric medications
- Describe common medication errors
- Apply safe prescribing and monitoring practices
- Implement workflow strategies to improve medication safety
- Recognize the importance of reporting systems
Module 8: Teamwork and Communication
- Define characteristics of effective teams
- Apply teamwork and communication strategies for safety
- Recognize the role of patients and families in care
- Identify the impact of caregiver burnout
Module 9: Equity, Bias, and Trauma-Informed Care
- Recognize the impact of implicit bias and cultural factors
- Identify populations at higher risk for adverse events
- Apply trauma-informed care principles
Module 10: Health Information Technology and Safety
- Explain how health IT improves safety and coordination
- Identify technologies that enhance patient safety
- Recognize risks such as data breaches, consent issues, and technology-related errors
Target Audience
Medical Students, Residents/Fellows, Psychiatrists
Estimated Time to Complete
Estimated Duration: 2.0 hours
Begin Date: July 1, 2026
End Date: July 1, 2029
How to Earn Credit
Participants who wish to earn 2.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit ™ or a certificate of participation may do so by completing all sections of the course including the evaluation. After evaluating the program, course participants will be provided with an opportunity to claim hours of participation and print an official CME certificate (physicians) or certificate of participation (non-physicians) showing the event date and hours earned.
Continuing Education Credit
In support of improving patient care, the American Psychiatric Association is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.
Physicians
The APA designates this enduring activity for a maximum of 2.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit ™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
Faculty and Planner Disclosures
The American Psychiatric Association adheres to the ACCME’s Standards for Integrity and Independence in Accredited Continuing Medical Education. Any individuals in a position to control the content of a CME activity — including faculty, planners, reviewers or others — are required to disclose all relevant financial relationships with ineligible entities (commercial interests). All relevant conflicts of interest have been mitigated prior to the commencement of the activity.
Program Presenters
- Daniel Phu, DO.
- Erick Cheung, MD.
- Isabelle Soares Smith, MD.
- Jacqueline Hobbs, MD, PhD, DFAPA, CMQ.
- Jeffrey Rado, MD. Reports financial relationships with Alkermes, Bristol Myers Squibb, Axsome, Johnson and Johnson, Alto Neurosciences, Cerevel, Click Therapeutics, and Relmada.
- Jose Arriola Vigo, MD.
- Kayla Murphy, MD.
- Matt Jason Llamas, MD.
- Poojajeet Khaira, MD.
- Suliman El-Amin, MD.
Program Planners
- Daniel Phu, DO.
- Erick Cheung, MD.
- Isabelle Soares Smith, MD.
- Jacqueline Hobbs, MD, PhD, DFAPA, CMQ.
- Jeffrey Rado, MD. Reports financial relationships with Alkermes, Bristol Myers Squibb, Axsome, Johnson and Johnson, Alto Neurosciences, Cerevel, Click Therapeutics, and Relmada.
- Jose Arriola Vigo, MD.
- Kayla Murphy, MD.
- Matt Jason Llamas, MD.
- Poojajeet Khaira, MD.
- Suliman El-Amin, MD.
Accessibility for Participants with Disabilities
The American Psychiatric Association is committed to ensuring accessibility of its website to people with disabilities. If you have trouble accessing any of APA’s online resources, please contact us at 202-559-3900 for assistance.
Technical Requirements
This internet-based CME activity is best experienced using any of the following:
- The latest and 2nd latest public versions of Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, or Safari
- Internet Explorer 11+
This Web site requires that JavaScript and session cookies be enabled. Certain activities may require additional software to view multimedia, presentation, or printable versions of the content. These activities will be marked as such and will provide links to the required software. That software may be: Adobe Acrobat Reader, Microsoft PowerPoint, and Windows Media Player.
Optimal System Configuration:
- Browser: Google Chrome (latest and 2nd latest version), Safari (latest and 2nd latest version), Internet Explorer 11.0+, Firefox (latest and 2nd latest version), or Microsoft Edge (latest and 2nd latest version)
- Operating System: Windows versions 8.1+, Mac OS X 10.5 (Leopard) +, Android (latest and 2nd latest version), or iOS/iPad OS (latest and 2nd latest version)
- Internet Connection: 1 Mbps or higher
Minimum Requirements:
- Windows PC: Windows 8.1 or higher; 1 GB (for 32-bit)/2 GB (for 64-bit) or higher RAM; Microsoft DirectX 9 graphics device with WDDM driver; audio playback with speakers for programs with video content
- Macintosh: Mac OS X 10.5 or higher with latest updates installed; Intel, PowerPC G5, or PowerPC G4 (867MHz or faster) processor; 512 MB or higher RAM; audio playback with speakers for programs with video content
For assistance: Contact educme@psych.org for questions about this activity | Contact learningcenter@psych.org for technical assistance