Improving Efficiency of the Echo Lab: A QI Initiative to Streamline Echo Reporting

Needs Statement

Quality improvement and patient safety span all areas of medicine and healthcare. This is a public health and ethical issue given that medical errors can result in unnecessary deaths, injuries, and expenses. As medical knowledge and technology continue to advance at a rapid pace, it is important that all healthcare providers continue to improve their quality of care and maintain patient safety at the forefront of their practice. As a leader in quality and safety, Baylor College of Medicine is uniquely positioned to begin the regional dialogue regarding quality improvement and patient safety strategies for all learners. The conference focuses on pathways to quality improvement and patient safety career development.

Educational Objectives

At the conclusion of this activity, the participant should be able to:

• Examine a variety of quality improvement career pathways.
• Compare training opportunities, technologies, and other resources for building a career in quality improvement.
• Identify the initial steps to get involved in quality improvement or patient safety once a problem is identified.
• Demonstrate how to build and contribute to a quality improvement team.

Target Audience

Activity Evaluation

Evaluation by questionnaire will address program content, presentation, and possible bias.

Educational Methods

• Lectures

Accreditation/Credit Designation

Baylor College of Medicine is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

Baylor College of Medicine designates this enduring material activity for a maximum of 0.25 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™.  Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Term of Approval

April 1, 2023 through April 30, 2025. Original release date: April 1, 2023.

Disclosure Policy

Baylor College of Medicine (BCM) is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education (CME) for physicians. BCM is committed to sponsoring CE activities that are scientifically based, accurate, current, and objectively presented.

In accordance with the ACCME Standards for Commercial Support, BCM has implemented a mechanism requiring everyone in a position to control the content of an educational activity (i.e., directors, planning committee members, faculty) to disclose any relevant financial relationships with commercial interests (drug/device companies) and manage/resolve any conflicts of interest prior to the activity. Individuals must disclose to participants the existence or non-existence of financial relationships at the time of the activity or within 24 months prior.

In addition, BCM has requested activity faculty/presenters to disclose to participants any unlabeled use or investigational use of pharmaceutical/device products; to use scientific or generic names (not trade names) in referring to products; and, if necessary to use a trade name, to use the names of similar products or those within a class. Faculty/presenters have also been requested to adhere to the ACCME's validation of clinical content statements.

BCM does not view the existence of financial relationships with commercial interests as implying bias or decreasing the value of a presentation. It is up to participants to determine whether the relationships influence the activity faculty with regard to exposition or conclusions. If at any time during this activity you feel that there has been commercial/promotional bias, notify the Activity Director or Activity Coordinator. Please answer the questions about balance and objectivity in the activity evaluation candidly.

All of the relevant financial relationships listed for these individuals have been mitigated.