Thursday, June 5, 2025
The Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine at The University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth is the first medical school in the country to require a patient safety course that prepares students for the Certified Professional in Patient Safety credential — and a new study published in the Journal of Osteopathic Medicine shows the course is delivering results.
For nearly five years, TCOM has offered the course as part of its curriculum for Professional Identity and Health Systems Practice. The study found significant improvement in students’ knowledge across all five patient safety domains, as well a measurable rise in how students value patient safety educations during their training.
The study was conducted by Janet Lieto, DO, FACOFP, CPPS; Amany Hassan, PhD; Lillee Gelinas, DNP, RN, CPPS, FNAP, FAAN; and Albert H. Yurvati, DO, PhD, DSc(hc), DFACOS, FICS, FAHA, CPPS.
“Patient safety issues are a major concern globally,” said Gelinas. “Students are shocked to learn about the magnitude of the problem. After taking the course, they genuinely saw the merit and value of the course and appreciated having the tools to address patient safety issues, which go beyond just raising awareness.”
Medical error is cited as a leading cause of preventable harm and death. An estimated 400,000 deaths occur annually in the United States due to medical errors, making it a leading cause of death in the nation. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that at least 2 million hospital-acquired infections occur each year, leading to 90,000 deaths.
Data was gathered from 12 student cohorts across two consecutive third-year classes. A total of 454 students were included: 238 in the Class of 2022 and 216 in the Class of 2023.
Pre- and post-course assessments showed significant increases in knowledge related to culture; measuring and improving performance; patient safety risks and solutions; systems thinking and design; and human factor analysis and leadership.
“Students’ perceptions of the course’s value were extremely positive in both the quantitative and qualitative analysis,” Gelinas said. “The statistically significant increase in positive perceptions about the importance of learning patient safety and achieving certification cannot be understated.”
Most students — 89 % or higher — said learning about each of the five domains is an important part of their medical training.
Before the course, 45% of students has a positive perception of the CPPS™ certification. After the course, that number rose to 63.8%, an 18.8% increase. When asked about the course’s value in residency interviews, positive responses rose from 51.7% to 70.7%,
TCOM is the first and only medical school in the nation to require a patient safety course that includes the CPPS™ Review Course content and CPPS™ Certification exam incorporated into medical education. The curriculum was developed by Lieto and Gelinas as part of the Professional Identity and Health Systems Practice Course to address the burgeoning preventable harm problem within the healthcare system.
TCOM collaborates with the Institute for Healthcare Improvement and Certification Board for Professionals in Patient Safety, whose support and resources are integral to the course.
As of June 2025, 1,114 TCOM students have passed the CPPS™ exam. The study concluded that integrating CPPS™ certification into the curriculum provides a tangible, quantitative academic achievement while equipping students with critical knowledge to systematically improve health care quality and safety.
In addition, 27 faculty and clerkship directors, not included in the study, have completed the course and passed the CPPS™ Certification Exam.
From HSC Newsroom – Research by Steven Bartolotta