This 2-hour online continuing education course is intended to increase clinicians’ awareness of the types of errors that can occur within mental health practice, how such errors damage clients, and numerous ways they can be prevented. Its emphasis is on areas within mental health practice that carry the potential for “medical” errors. Examples include improper diagnosis, breach of confidentiality, failure to maintain accurate clinical records, failure to comply with mandatory abuse reporting laws, inadequate assessment of potential for violence, and the failure to detect medical conditions presenting as psychiatric disorders (or vice-versa). It includes detailed plans for error reduction and prevention like root cause analysis, habitual attention to patient safety, and ethical and legal guidelines. The course includes numerous cases illustrations to help demonstrate common and not-so-common behavioral health errors and specific practices that can help clinicians become proactive in preventing them. 2010 | 31 pages | 15 posttest questions | Course #20-10B

Florida-licensed Psychologists, School Psychologists, Mental Health Counselors, Marriage & Family Therapists, and Social Workers are required to complete a 2-hour course on the Prevention of Medical Errors for each license renewal. The same course may be taken each renewal because the licensing boards consider it a “refresher” of the knowledge.

Professional Development Resources is approved as a provider of continuing education by the following: