Emergency Ultrasound Consultants, TSG collaborate to reduce medical errors

Emergency Ultrasound Consultants, LLC (EUC), the experts in point-of-care ultrasound education and quality assurance solutions, announced today a strategic partnership with The Sullivan Group (TSG), a world leading provider of patient safety, risk management and performance improvement solutions for healthcare professionals.

Medical errors are the eighth leading cause of death in the United States according to the 1999 Institute of Medicine (IOM) Report; To Err Is Human: Building A Safer Health System. It is estimated that nearly $17 Billion is wasted annually on healthcare costs for preventable medical errors. The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) identifies "Diagnostic error, such as misdiagnosis leading to an incorrect choice of therapy..." as a leading cause of medical errors. Point-of-care ultrasound has proven to be a validated tool in decreasing procedure complications and reducing error in clinical decisions.

"EUC is proud to add to the history of transformational healthcare contributions from the 'First State'. Delaware was first to have a statewide enhanced 911 system, was innovative in the delivery of emergency care, and now through EUC, Delaware will be pivotal in helping reduce medical errors through emergency ultrasound," says Paul R. Sierzenski, MD, RDMS, EUC President, and Past-Chair of the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) Ultrasound Section.

EUC and TSG will jointly launch a unique web-based educational series in 2010 called "Sound Medical Practice: Reducing Medical Errors by Using Emergency Ultrasound". This series of dynamic courses will educate physicians, healthcare professionals and administrators on how to reduce errors, improve efficiency, and effect clinical decision-making by using ultrasound in emergency, trauma and critical care settings. "Our combined areas of expertise are a powerful, natural fit," says Dr. Sierzenski. "EUC's proven ultrasound educational products and quality assurance services integrate well with TSG's performance improvement focus. TSG's robust web-based delivery and knowledge assessment system will further enhance the impact of this offering," Dr. Sierzenski added.

Courses will include ultrasound guidance of procedures and common clinical scenarios where the delay in diagnosis represents significant risk to patient care. Compliance with national ultrasound recommendations, such as those by the AHRQ and other quality organizations will be addressed. As healthcare resources are strained, the expanding role and value of point-of-care ultrasound in clinical care to improve patient care and reduce errors is gaining momentum.

Daniel Sullivan, MD, JD, President and CEO of TSG states, "The proper implementation of an emergency department ultrasound program is a key component of a comprehensive patient safety and medical error reduction program. Our strategic relationship with EUC is perfectly aligned with TSG's mission to deliver system solutions that improve patient safety and reduce risk."