CERTIFIED PATIENT SAFETY OFFICER

CPSO Information

Overview--The Board of Certified Hazard Control and Healthcare Safety Management proudly announces the Certified Patient Safety Officer (CPSO) designation. The CPSO designation will recognize healthcare professionals dedicated to developing, improving, and implementing effective safety cultures in healthcare facilities and organizations. The Certified Patient Safety Officer (CPSO) program offered the first exam to 12 applicants in late 2005. The CPSO designation would be appropriate for risk managers, quality coordinators, nursing supervisors, safety directors, patient safety officers, consultants, physicians, and other qualified allied health professionals.

CPSO Philosophy–The exam focuses on culture, communication, education, and coordination of effective patient safety programs. The exam also evaluates understanding of key patient safety initiatives including best practices and patient safety goals. Persons earning the designation will be challenged to lead organizational changes that focus on safety culture development, use of system safety principles, and the creation of trust. Senior leaders are encouraged to support personnel desiring to achieve this timely certification. Large organizations can benefit by having several people earn the designation. In the future the program plans to offer certifications at the specialist and executive levels.

General Qualifications for Certification—Candidates for certification must have four years acceptable healthcare experience and:

Complete the formal application (Refer to PDF File)

Document of two years experience in leading or supporting patient safety activities

Provide a copy of current job description

Achieve a passing score on the closed book examination

Provide two reference evaluations from persons who know their abilities (Refer to PDF File)

Document experience in using performance improvement tools

Write three multiple choice patient safety questions with four alternatives

Official transcripts may be required in some situations to verify education level

(1) Candidates holding a professional healthcare certification (CPHRM, CPHQ, or the CHSP at the Master Level) may submit a copy of their certification in lieu of official transcripts.

(2) Candidates holding a current healthcare or medical license (M.D. D.O. R.N. etc.) can submit a copy of their license in lieu of official transcripts.

Special Certification Considerations—Candidates not meeting all of the above requirements may still qualify but must meet one of the following additional criteria and be approved by the Board on a case-by-case basis.

Serve as the organizational Patient Safety Officer, Manager, Coordinator, etc.

Serve as the Safety Officer with patient safety responsibilities

Serve in senior leadership position with patient safety responsibilities or oversight

Serve as a professional safety, patient safety, risk management, or quality consultant

Hold a position as an insurance or academic patient safety specialist

Serve in an official capacity as a patient safety advocate or educator

Applications–The formal application is found here (Application). Print a copy and complete the entire form. All requested information must be entered. Check the CPSO in the upper right corner of page 1. Please mail the completed application to the Board’s mailing address at P.O. Box 1662, Pelham, AL 35124. Please attach all supporting documentation as outlined in the in the General Information section above. Enclose the $150.00 Application Fee with the formal application paperwork. The application fee is non-refundable.

Reference Evaluations–This form is here (Reference Forms). Print two copies and send to two people who can attest to your qualifications. Instruct those completing the forms to mail them to: BCHCM -, P.O. Box 1662, Pelham, AL 35124

Exam Content–The written exam contains 100 to 130 multiple choice questions. Up to 20% of exam items may require critical thinking or analysis. Question come from six broad functional areas: (1) Program Design, Leadership, & Management, (2) Patient Safety Management Tools, (3) Patient Safety Risks and Hazards, (4) New Hazards & Current Events, (5) Standards & and Organizations, and (6) Special Patient Safety Topics. Please note that up to 15% of the exam may be developed from areas not on the exam outline. The CPSO exam is $150.00 for the initial exam. The re-examination fee is $75.00

Taking The Exam---Candidates for certification challenge the exam at anytime. Applicants must make arrangement to take the exam locally at a college testing center or military education center. Exams can not be sent to the organization. Each candidate is

is responsible for scheduling the examination at the desired testing location. Once arranged the candidate must contact the Board in writing to have the exam forwarded to the testing location. The Board or an independent group may offer a prep and exam sessions. The Board normally makes arrangement with those conducting the session to proctor the exams at the conclusion. Check this website for the current schedule.

Exam Preparation Information—The Patient Safety Handbook, published by Jones & Bartlett, is the current recommended reference. Please note that all exam items do not come from the recommended study reference. TLC Services plans to offer short prep and exam sessions for the CPSO until December 1, 2007. These sessions are held at various locations around the country. Each session consists of a 5 hour concepts review. The exam will be offered during the session. Candidates for certification can sit for the review and the exam. TLC Services also offers a Self Directed Study Program which includes The Patient Safety Handbook, a study manual, and review exercises. Go to www.certsafenow.com for the latest CPSO Prep Course Schedule and to purchase books or self study materials.

Annual Maintenance & Re-Certification—Each CPSO holder must renew their certification annually. The Board will invoice each candidate annually for $100 and include a new wallet card. When the annual renewal fee is received by the Board, your status will be updated and your certification will be current.

Due to rapid changes occurring in healthcare all CPSO holders must recertify every three years by documenting 45 contact hours (4.5 ICEUs) of appropriate continuing education. The continuing education must address patient safety, risk, quality, care improvement, or any patient related topic. Certified personnel will be notified when and how to submit documentation to achieve re-certification. Persons not submitting appropriate documentation will be dropped and must take the current exam to re-certify.