MNASCA Online Education Session: Improving Patient Safety with Candor

The Minnesota Candor Act went into effect on August 1, 2023. This new law, modeled after similar laws in other states, sets up a legal “safe space” for patients and providers to openly discuss the facts of an adverse medical event (AME) to reduce and prevent similar situations from occurring. Candor encourages a more humanistic response to an AME for patients and families, as well as any care providers that might have been involved. This new law demonstrates a commitment to a future where AMEs are promptly met with understanding, transparency, and a shared interest in improving patient safety and promoting empathetic care.

On January 19, 2024, MNASCA partnered with Dyste Williams and COPIC to deliver a one-hour online session explaining the Candor process and how to get started. We covered several topics, including:

• How the Candor Act creates a framework for an effective communication and resolution program
• The steps required under the Candor framework for the legal protections to apply
• Other states’ experience with Candor and how it has impacted their approach to AMEs and provider-patient relationships
• How Candor supports more compassionate care and is an effective tool to prevent burnout among care providers

Presenters
Nels Dyste, Vice President, Dyste Williams
Doug Mason, VP of Claims, COPIC
Jean Martin MD, JD, Deputy General Counsel, COPIC 

Review the Session Slides

Continuing Education Credit 
This program is approved for up to 1.0 hour of AEUs by BASC Provider #6240 for the content areas: Delivery of Patient Care, Quality Improvement, and Regulatory and Legal Issues. For more information, please review the BASC Approval Letter and Content Breakdown.

Access Minnesota Candor Act Resources

• Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) CANDOR Toolkit
• COPIC Guide for the Minnesota CANDOR Act
• COPIC Minnesota CANDOR Act Resource Toolkit
  • Overview of CANDOR Process
  • Minnesota CANDOR Act FAQs
  • Patient FAQs and Program Overview
  • Consent Patient Consent Forms using during the CANDOR Process

Questions? 

For more information, or to submit questions about Candor to be addressed during the session, please contact Laura Harris, MNASCA Executive Director, at [email protected]. 

Thanks to MNASCA Corporate Member, Dyste Williams for providing their expertise and supporting this online education session!