Managing Patient Deaths: An Understanding – Level 1 Course

Managing Patient Deaths: An Understanding – Level 1 – Online Course

Course overview
This online course introduces the principles of learning from patient deaths and the importance of openness, patient safety and organisational learning in healthcare. Learners explore safety culture, the investigation of safety concerns, recognising mistakes and approaches to sharing information and improving practice. The course takes 1 hour to complete and is worth 1 CPD point.

Please note: This is an introductory Level 1 course that develops awareness and understanding of learning from patient deaths in healthcare settings. It does not replace any practical, regulated or role-specific training an employer may require.

What the course covers
• Learning from patient deaths and the importance of reviewing outcomes
• The framework for learning from deaths
• Common reasons problems occur in healthcare
• Patient safety and organisational culture
• The principles of a just culture
• Safety culture and the quality of safety investigations
• Recognising and learning from personal mistakes
• Barriers to openness within healthcare organisations
• Individual and organisational responsibilities
• The ward-to-board approach to patient safety
• The Being Open Framework
• The benefits and principles of being open
• The importance of transparency, learning and continuous improvement

Who is it for?
This course is intended for healthcare professionals and staff who want to develop their introductory understanding of learning from patient deaths and patient safety. It may be suitable for:
• Nurses and nursing assistants
• Healthcare assistants
• Medical practitioners
• Palliative care professionals
• Social workers supporting patients and families
• Healthcare managers and administrators
• Staff working in hospitals, hospices, care homes and community care services
• Employees undertaking induction, refresher or awareness training
• Learners seeking to improve their knowledge of patient safety and organisational learning

Practical benefits
• Understand why learning from patient deaths matters in healthcare
• Develop awareness of the relationship between safety culture and quality improvement
• Recognise the importance of identifying mistakes and learning from problems
• Understand how openness can support communication and organisational learning
• Improve awareness of individual responsibilities and the importance of accountability
• Support induction, refresher learning and knowledge development
• Obtain a free CPD-accredited course certificate following successful completion of the quiz

What learners will be able to do
• Explain key concepts and terminology associated with learning from patient deaths
• Describe why reviewing deaths and learning from problems are important
• Recognise factors that may contribute to patient safety concerns
• Explain the principles of a just culture and an open safety culture
• Identify barriers to openness within healthcare organisations
• Understand individual responsibilities in contributing to patient safety
• Describe the purpose of the ward-to-board approach
• Recognise the value of sharing information and learning from mistakes
• Understand when concerns may need to be communicated or escalated

Assessment and certificate
Learners complete an online quiz at the end of the course. On successful completion, they receive a free CPD-accredited Managing Patient Deaths: An Understanding – Level 1 course certificate, which can be downloaded or printed. Unlimited assessment retakes are available. The course takes approximately 1 hour to complete.