Federal Tort Claims Act University (FTCAU) 

The Federal Tort Claims Act University (FTCAU): Washington, DC Campus is an innovative and new training conference that is being offered to members of the health center community. FTCAU provides a great opportunity for seasoned quality and risk management professionals and new professionals to learn from experts, leaders, and government officials 

FTCAU: Washington, DC Campus will be organized by the FTCA Division of the Bureau of Primary Health Care (BPHC) and the District of Columbia Primary Care Association. The training sessions will be beneficial for health center quality improvement coordinators, risk managers, health center administrators, clinicians, and board members. Sessions will also be of value to others who provide healthcare and support services and have an interest in patient safety, risk management, and quality of care. 

FTCAU provides a great opportunity for seasoned quality and risk management professionals and new professionals to learn from experts, leaders, and government officials about FTCA, healthcare quality and risk management, and related subjects.. Over the course of two days, attendees will participate in interactive presentations and exercises that are specially geared toward health center grantees in Washington, DC, and surrounding states. 

FTCAU UNIVERSITY AGENDA

September 13-14, 2016

Tuesday, September 13, 1016 [8:00am - 4:35pm]

8:00 am to 9:00 am         Registration & Continental Breakfast

9:00 am to 9:10 am         Opening Remarks

9:10 am to 10:00 am      Session: FTCA 101

Summary: Basic Policy and Program Procedures Summary: Since its enactment in 1946, the Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA) has been the legal mechanism for compensating people who have suffered personal injury by the negligent or wrongful action of employees of the U.S. Government.  Under Section 224 of the Public Health Service Act, as amended by the Federally Supported Health Centers Assistance Act of 1992 and 1995, employees of eligible health centers may be deemed to be federal employees qualified for protection under the FTCA. This informative session will enhance your knowledge of the FTCA program and key program requirements.

Speaker(s): Christopher Gibbs, JD, MPH, LHCRM

10:00 am to 10:15 am    Break

10:15 am to 12:00 pm    Session: Claims Management 101

Summary: An unanticipated outcome leading to a compensable event or notice of a claim against a healthcare center or individual provider is a disturbing occurrence for all staff members. This session will briefly address identification and initial management of an unanticipated outcome, care of staff members involved in unanticipated outcomes, and preparation for a deposition as a component of the claims management process.

Speaker(s): David Levin, Esq.

12:30 pm to 1:15 pm      Lunch/Keynote Address

Importance of Patient Safety Summary: This keynote address will focus on patient safety in the current health care environment; highlight vulnerabilities found in community based care and discuss the cost of inaction. From executive leadership to frontline staff, the presenter will emphasize the role all healthcare professionals play in promoting patient safety.

Speaker(s): Lee Patrick, RN, BHA, MBA, CPHRM

1:30 pm to 3:00 pm Session: Risk Management 101 & 102: Risk Management and Tracking and Preventing Missed/Delayed/Incorrect Diagnosis

Summary: Adverse events—clinical incidents that may pose the risk of injury to a patient as the result of a medical intervention, rather than the patient’s underlying health condition—can occur in all health care delivery settings.  This session will provide an overview of how to establish appropriate clinical policies and procedures in areas such as triage and tracking hospitalizations, referrals, and diagnostic test results. Key strategies for improving procedures related to test, hospitalization, and referral tracking will be reviewed.  The later part of the session will focus diagnostic errors that are frequent and that can be potentially fatal to health center patients.   Activities will focus on addressing various causes of diagnostic errors and will identify structured protocols which may lead to improved diagnostic outcomes.

Speaker(s): Christine Callahan, RN, MBA

3:00 pm to 3:20 pm        Break

3:20 pm to 4:30 pm        Session: Risk Management 103: Adverse Incident Analysis

Summary: Many health care errors are not just a series of random, unconnected events.  Many adverse incidents are provoked by weak systems and often have common root causes. This interactive session will identify the importance of having a process to analyze adverse events, identify responsible parties and various methodologies to assess risks, identify adverse events, and implement corrective action plans.

Speaker(s): Lee Patrick, RN, BHA, MBA, CPHRM

4:30 pm to 4:35 pm        Closing Remarks

  _____________________________________________________________________________

Wednesday, September 14, 2016  [7:30am - 4:00pm]

7:30 am to 8:30 am         Continental Breakfast

8:30 am to 11:00 am      Session: Credentialing and Privileging 101 & 102

Summary: Federally qualified community health centers are responsible for taking reasonable actions to assure that the care provided to the patients who are treated within its confines will be provided by competent health care professionals. This interactive session will provide participants education on critical elements of the credentialing and privileging process. This session will also cover the importance of establishing and maintaining credentialing files to support quality improvement and patient safety. In evaluating the clinical performance of licensed independent providers, HRSA emphasizes the use of protected processes that are confidential and nonpunitive, which they believe better facilitate quality management efforts at the individual provider level. The peer review for quality management is a process designed to evaluate the care delivered and the actions taken by the provider. The presenter will explore the benefits and identify best practices for performing peer review within your own health center.

Speaker(s): Lee Patrick, RN, BHA, MBA, CPHRM and Patricia Stahura, RN, MSN

11:00 am to 12:00 pm    Lunch Break

12:00 pm to 1:00 pm      Session: Healthcare Data and Privacy/Protection

Summary: In the increasing digital health landscape, healthcare providers are storing and monitoring patient information in electronic health records (EHR) and other tracking systems. Patients rely on healthcare providers to secure this data to ensure privacy of their records, protection from identity theft and use of their health information without their consent. This session will provide an overview the digital health landscape and identify key strategies healthcare providers can safeguard patient information.

Speaker(s): Patricia Stahura, RN, MSN

1:00 pm to 2:00 pm        Session:  Claims Management 102

Summary: A representative of the Department of Justice will provide an overview of the uniform procedure for handling claims made against Federally Qualified Health Centers.  This informative session will enhance your knowledge of the Federal Tort Claims Process for Deemed HRSA Funded Health Centers.  Topics covered will include an overview of claim filings, required documents for premature lawsuits and claims disposition, and other considerations within the litigation process.

Speaker(s): Representative from the United States Department of Justice 

2:00 pm to 2:20 pm        Break

2:20 pm to 3:35 pm        Lunch Session: FTCA Application Process Unmasked: Details of how the application process works

Summary: This session will focus on the FTCA application process and the various levels of review that occur prior to a final deeming determination being issued.

Speaker(s): Christopher Gibbs, JD, MPH, LHCRM

3:35 pm to 4:00 pm        Closing Remarks