IHI Celebrates 5,000th Patient Safety Professional and Marks 10 Years of CPPS Program

Certified Professional in Patient Safety^TM (CPPS) credential demonstrates competencies and expertise in the core standards of patient safety

The Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) and IHI’s Certification Board for Professionals in Patient Safety (CBPPS) are pleased to announce that 5,000 health care professionals have earned the Certified Professional in Patient Safety^TM (CPPS) credential. Since the certification program was launched 10 years ago, patient safety professionals representing 50 US states and 30 countries have earned the CPPS credential, demonstrating a high level ​​of proficiency in the core standards of patient safety.​​​​​​​​​ IHI offers scholarships to expand equitable access to the certification program.

The rigorous CPPS credentialing process establishes patient safety competency standards and elevates the professional stature of health care professionals who meet knowledge requirements in the areas of culture, leadership, patient safety risks and solutions, measuring and improving performance, systems thinking and design, and human factors. The credential emphasizes the ability to apply this knowledge to plan and implement patient safety initiatives. Certification requires a combination of education and experience and successful completion of the evidence-based certification exam.

The 5,000 certified patient safety professionals represent a range of backgrounds and roles, including nurses, physicians, pharmacists, safety, quality and risk managers and leaders, health care executives, medical students and residents, academic faculty, industry, and many more.

“The CPPS program enables health care professionals to prepare to take the CPPS exam, which validates their knowledge and expertise to advance patient safety,” said Karen Frush, BSN, MD, CPPS, Chair of the CBPPS that governs the CPPS program. “Earning this credential is a meaningful accomplishment, and the skills and expertise of certificants is ever more important given the setbacks in safety that have occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic. We applaud the 5,000 health care professionals who are committed to improving patient care.”

Throughout the pandemic, CBPPS offered more than 70 scholarships to expand equitable access to the certification program by fully covering the cost of the CPPS review course, practice exam, and the credentialing exam.

“The CPPS program is an integral part of IHI’s efforts to advance safer care for all, which requires a commitment to spreading safety expertise across demographics, disciplines, and globally,” said Patricia McGaffigan, RN, MS, CPPS, IHI Vice President and President of CBPPS. “The demand for health care professionals with expert knowledge and demonstrated skills in safety continues to accelerate. We are immensely proud of the 5,000 individuals who have earned this credential during the last 10 years, and we look forward to continued growth of this certification program in the years ahead.”

The Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine (TCOM) has contributed to the success and expansion of the CPPS program by integrating it into their medical school curriculum. Dean Frank A. Filipetto DO, CPPS, FACOFP, commented, “I��m particularly proud that the Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine requires all third-year students to complete training that is based on the CPPS review course and sit for the CPPS exam. The competencies achieved and degree of assessment demonstrated through this certification need to be part of all health care related curricula if we are going to improve the safety of the health care system. I sincerely encourage all medical schools and residency programs to join TCOM leading the redesign of medical education to assure competency of all future health care providers in patient safety science. Our society, our patients, deserve no less.”

The CPPS credential is valid for three years, after which time recertification is required. Comprehensive information about CPPS review courses, the certification exam, and recertification can be found here: CPPS Overview.

About the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI)

The Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) is an independent not-for-profit organization based in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. For 30 years, IHI has used improvement science to advance and sustain better outcomes in health and health systems across the world. IHI brings awareness of safety and quality to millions, catalyzes learning and the systematic improvement of care, develops solutions to previously intractable challenges, and mobilizes health systems, communities, regions, and nations to reduce harm and deaths. IHI collaborates with a growing community to spark bold, inventive ways to improve the health of individuals and populations. IHI generates optimism, harvests fresh ideas, and supports anyone, anywhere who wants to profoundly change health and health care for the better. Learn more at ihi.org.

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