Proactive Regulation: Implementing an Early-Intervention Practitioner Remediation Program

In the 1990s, CAC developed a Practitioner Remediation and Enhancement Partnership (PreP 4 Patient Safety), which encouraged hospitals and licensing boards to collaborate in identifying practitioners with weakness that could jeopardize patient safety and directing these individuals to remedial assistance to correct their deficiencies before patient harm occurs. The Ohio Board of Nursing operates a statutorily based PreP-like program.

At this Webinar, speakers from the Ohio Board of Nursingdescribed their program. The presentationincluded a discussion of guidelines for avoiding the abuse of programs such as this. In addition, the presenters provided an overview of the Boards Patient Safety Initiative. The purpose of the Initiative is to create a culture of safety and accountability by establishing a more comprehensive approach to nursing practice complaints. The Initiative incorporates Just Culture, employer remediation, the Practice Intervention and Improvement Program, and collection of patient safety data.

Presenters:
Betsy J. Houchen
Executive Director
Ohio Board of Nursing

Lisa Emrich
Program Manager
Ohio Board of Nursing

The Ohio Board of Nursing appointed Betsy J. Houchen to the position of Executive Director in 2005.Through her career, she practiced as a public health and home care nurse, directed home care and hospice programs, implemented statewide licensure programs, and administered federal certification programs.In addition, Ms. Houchen was the Director of Public Policy of a statewide association and worked as a health care attorney in two large law firms.

Lisa Emrich has been employed by the Ohio Board of Nursing since 2000, and is currently its Programs Manager for Education, Practice and Administration.Ms. Emrich designed the Boards Practice Intervention and Improvement Program and implemented the program in 2001. Prior to coming to the Board of Nursing, Ms. Emrich served as the Standards Review and Intervention Supervisor for the State Medical Board of Ohio, where she implemented its Quality Intervention Program, the Medical Boards non-discipline remediation program for physicians.Ms. Emrichs past clinical practice has been in critical care and critical care management.

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