Fort Worth Medical Students Gain Patient Safety Skills
Students are completing a mandatory two-week safety course to help reduce preventable medical errors in local hospitals.
Updated on Oct. 21, 2026 in Secondary Education
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The Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine in Fort Worth requires third-year medical students to complete a rigorous two-week course on patient safety. This training program prepares future doctors to reduce preventable errors in the healthcare system.
Why it matters
By integrating systemic safety science into the core curriculum, the school aims to address the thousands of preventable deaths that occur annually in U.S. healthcare. Training students to report near misses and systemic errors is a critical step in improving overall patient care outcomes.
Students at the Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine achieve a 92% first-time pass rate on the Institute for Healthcare Improvement exam, which climbs to 98% after repeat attempts, significantly outperforming the 75% national average pass rate.
The players
Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine
A medical school in Fort Worth that trains future physicians and emphasizes systemic safety science in its curriculum.
Institute for Healthcare Improvement
An organization focused on health system reform that provides the standardized patient safety exam used by the medical school.
The details
During their third year, students spend four hours each afternoon in a two-week-long course combined with morning self-study sessions. This training incorporates simulation exercises that focus on consent procedures and error-reporting protocols to ensure graduates understand systemic safety science.
Timeline
Medical students participate in the course during their third year.
Frank Filipetto finished his term as dean in 2024.
The Home Front
Medical education is increasingly prioritizing patient safety protocols as a standard requirement for graduating physicians. This shift reflects a broader healthcare industry trend of focusing on systemic error reporting to reduce preventable patient outcomes.
When evaluating your own healthcare choices, consider asking how a provider's training prepared them for patient safety and error reporting. Recognizing that safety is a systemic priority can help families feel more confident when discussing consent and procedures with their doctors.
The takeaway
The medical school's high pass rate on the IHI exam suggests a strong commitment to systemic safety among its graduates. Parents and patients can support this culture by always asking for clear explanations of consent and error-reporting protocols during medical appointments.
Further reading
For more information on local academic programs, explore the Secondary Education section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Dallas Morning News.
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