Here are six things to know:
1. The intent of the program is straightforward: to prevent the 440,000 medical error deaths that occur in America every year.
2. The first student graduated with a PhD in healthcare quality and patient safety in fall 2016.
3. During the program, engineers, cognitive psychologists and risk assessment specialists, among others, train senior and mid-career clinicians to pinpoint and rectify weak spots in the healthcare system.
4. One course teaches students about physical and cognitive ergonomics, and another asks students to figure out device design issues leading to errors.
5. The program also emphasizes teamwork and communication throughout the continuum of care.
6. Northwestern also offers a master’s program in the topic, and it offers a template for other medical schools to establish their own programs.
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