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The program portion began at 8:30am with a welcome from Dean Mary Ann Parsons.  A panel discussion, led by moderator Dr. Don Saunders, Distinguished Professor Emeritus, USC School of Medicine, focused on approaches to reporting medical errors using the IOM report as a foundation.  Joining Dr. Saunders on the panel were: Rebecca Brewer, FACHE, CEO for Colleton County Hospital; Deborah Tapley, RPh, MBA, Pharmacist with Palmetto Richland Memorial Hospital; Keith Torgersen, RN, MSN, CRNA, Certified Registered Nurse with McLeod Regional Medical Center; Robin Fretwell Wilson, JD, Assistant Professor, USC School of Law; and Dr. Vaughn Barnick, Chief of Staff, Providence Hospital.

Joining the group for the second session was Mr. Jim Blue, co-anchor for the WOLO-TV evening news.  Mr. Blue announced the keynote speaker, John J. Nance, JD, Aviation Safety Analyst and Advocate. Mr. Nance offered the idea that our efforts to eliminate medical errors are doomed to fail unless we develop systems which are designed to anticipate and safely absorb predictable human mistakes.  Health care leaders must anticipate and allow for possible mistakes because of fatigue, distractions, anger, overwork, misunderstanding, and other well-known human frailties. He stressed that it will take nothing less than adopting a new culture in health care.  Following his presentation, he shared a video tape, Beyond Blame, with the audience which showed the devastating results a fatal medical error can have on a physician, nurse, pharmacist, administrator, attorney for institution, and the family.

Following the keynote, a second panel discussion, led by Dean Mary Ann Parsons, focused on the local commitment to change the culture of health care. Joining Dean Parsons were: Ruth Mustard, RN, MSN, CCRN, CAN, Chief Nursing Services Director, WJB Dorn VA Medical Center; Caroline Seigler, RN, MN, Vice President Administration and Chief Nursing Officer, Palmetto Health Alliance; Jorie Monk, RN, CCRN, Chief Nursing Officer, Providence Hospital; and COL. Patricia Prather, MN, RN, Deputy Commander for Nursing, Moncrief Community Army Hospital.

For the final portion of the program, all panelists and keynoter returned to the platform for a time of questions and answers with the participants.

There were 149 in attendance on site and approximately 30 viewing from other sites via closed circuit television.  See attached program for co-sponsor information.

February 2, 2001