Testimonials

The First, Do No Harm films have earned an unsurpassed reputation in the Patient Safety field.  Here is a sampling of what educators and thought leaders say about the FDNH products.

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“A classic audiovisual presentation”
- Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Patient Safety Network

“The First, Do No Harm series provides a powerful tool for educating Physician, Board, Administration, and all staff about the roles and responsibilities of each in creating a culture of safety.  These videos provide an excellent backdrop for teaching systems thinking, communication skills, accountability, and leadership's role in a learning environment.  The facilitator's manual ensures that any level teacher can lead the discussion.  Nonetheless, the discussion will be limited only by the willingness of participants to explore the reaches of their awareness.  I cannot recommend these films separately, or as a set, enough.”
- Geri Amori, PhD, ARM, DFASHRM, CPHRM, Senior Director, The Risk Management & Patient Safety Institute

“First, Do No Harm speaks to the health care community in a powerful way. The enriching dialogue that will take place following the film will give viewers a deeper understanding of the issue’s importance, and why every member of the health care team – physician, nurse, administrative leadership, and patient – will participate in the quality of the health care experience.”
- Mike Abrams, President, Iowa Medical Association

“First, Do No Harm is a compelling teaching tool used in a variety of educational programs offered to MICA insured physicians and their staff, as well as to third year medical students.  Attendees report that the film is impressive and meaningful.”

- Judy Avery, RN, BS, Education Coordinator, MICA Risk Management Services

 “Transformation in healthcare culture requires that we fundamentally re-educate our workforces about the inherent potential for failure of the systems in which they work day to day.  The First, Do No Harm films are extremely engaging building blocks.  They help professionals viscerally appreciate the way they can be set up to fail – and their patients to be harmed -- by poorly organized work systems.  They also assist leaders to see the payoffs for investing in better teamwork, more thoughtful and compassionate disclosure practices, and increased transparency within their organizations and with the public.”
- Troyen A. Brennan, MD, PhD, JD, Chief Medical Officer, Aetna

“Fulfilling our moral and ethical responsibilities for quality care and advancing patient safety requires that we honestly examine the realities of our practice.  The First, Do No Harm series of films is an invaluable tool in confronting the realities, stimulating crucial conversations, and advancing quality safe care in a partnership among patients, family members, and staff.”
- James D. Conway, MD, Senior Vice President, Institute for Healthcare Improvement

“This excellently executed film shows us the courageous path - also the safest path - to managing medical events that have involved harm. If all medical leaders and clinicians had the insight this film has to offer, the medical system could dramatically improve.”

- Linda Emanuel, MD, PhD, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University

“The First, Do No Harm films are not only powerfully moving but a wonderful teaching too that brings alive the difficult and all too human tragedy for everybody involved in a medical error.”
- Tom Granitur, Director, Policy Research, Humana Europe, Ltd.

“Learning can sometimes fall flat when concepts remain in the theoretical.  In contrast, case studies can bring issues to life in powerful ways, and "The First Do No Harm" film series is one of the most effective examples of vivid, real-life scenarios that can both teach -- and compel action.  At Risk Management Foundation, we frequently show these films to illustrate the many vulnerabilities in today's healthcare environment.  They always trigger critical thinking around what needs to be done to solve long-standing problems.”
- Robert Hanscom, Vice President, Risk Management Foundation of the Harvard Medical Institutions

“…an excellent example of Reasons’ model of systems failure.”

- Harvard Business School, “Why Complex Systems Fail,” Case 5-604-083, November 2004

“First Do No Harm Part 2 is an exceptionally well done follow on to Part 1. Carrying the original story into the aftermath, it is a great conversation starter able to help an organization see itself when things get tough. Highly recommended.”
- Eric Knox, MD, Patient Safety Consultant

“The First, Do No Harm Series is an extraordinary achievement that brings to life many of the key systematic and cultural problems responsible for patient mishaps.  I use Part One to highlight problems with systems design, latent conditions, and organizational culture. Part Two demonstrates the role of effective leadership and introduces the important topic of disclosure.  I use Part Three to role play both disclosure and media dynamics.  Having used the First Do No Harm Series with over 1,000 health care leaders I have found no other video series that both demonstrates these issues while also resonating emotionally with the audience.”

- Steven Meisel, Pharm.D., Director of Medication Safety, Fairview Health Services

“Significant improvement in patient safety isn’t possible without an honest an unvarnished understanding of how medical professionals make mistakes.  Lectures, papers, discussions, and even mandated changes help, but there is absolutely nothing more effective in cutting through rhetoric and reaching medical staff at gut level than visual portrayals of what can go wrong.  That’s why the First, Do No Harm series has been and continues to be perhaps the most effective and important video-based learning tool in the patient safety arsenal: No healthcare professional who views it comes away unmoved.  There is literally no one concerned with improving healthcare’s patient safety performance who does not need this series.  No one.”

- John J. Nance, JD, ABC News

“We use the entire series of First, Do No Harm videos with every new orientee to our hospital. The response to them is amazing. The message is well delivered and provides a long term impact for our staff. I recommend that every health care facility utilize these vary valuable tools.”

- Joanne Nathem RN, MS, Chief Nurse Executive, Montgomery County Medical Center

“First, Do No Harm, an extraordinarily moving video on patient safety…is perhaps the single best conversation-starter I'm aware of, if you want to get your Board, Medical and Nursing Staff, and residents engaged in the subject of safety.”

- James L. Reinertsen, MD, Principal, The Reinertsen Group

“The First, Do No Harm series bridges the gap between patient safety rhetoric and real practice change.  Richly layered with characters, settings, and events, the videos can be played many time for many different audiences.  Each viewing reveals flaws in the systems that are disturbingly familiar, poignant, and eminently fixable.”

- William M. Sage, MD, JD, Vice Provost for Health Affairs, The University of Texas at Austin School of Law

"We have found that every time we've shown the 3-part First, Do No Harm film series to a group, a shared mental model for patient safety has been created among the viewers.  The films never fail to stir the viewers' emotions and raise their consciousness to an awareness of the phenomenon necessary for change to occur and be sustainable." 
- David P. Seifert, Partner, Healthcare Advisory Panel, former President & CEO of St. Anthony's Medical Center in St. Louis, MO

“The First, Do No Harm film series is an essential learning tool for healthcare providers, administrators, and consumer partners in the effort to eliminate harmful outcomes due to healthcare system breakdowns. Highlighting such issues as communication across cultures, health literacy, patient-centeredness, and how to respond to a patient and family after harm has occurred (disclosure), these videos should be a mandatory training exercise for every organization claiming either 'patient-centeredness' or 'patient safety', or both, as a fundamental value. The issues explored are not native to just the United States either-these are truly useful tools in the international healthcare community throughout the developed world."
- Ryan Sidorchuk, Leader, Patient Voice Facilitation, Winnipeg Regional Health Authority, Canada; Global Patient Safety Champion, World Alliance for Patient Safety; Board Member, Consumers Advancing Patient Safety

 “Partnership for Patient Safety is at the forefront of patient safety education. This 3 part program effectively unmasks the behaviors and system problems that beset the health system’s management of adverse events. By focusing on the stories of all those involved in an actual adverse event we are permitted to see at close quarters the many factors at work and just how complex our health care system is. We are left with more understanding of the impact of adverse events on patients, families and health care professionals and better appreciation of what needs to be done to prevent such things in the future. This is an excellent program and I will certainly be using it in my teaching program of medical students and doctors."
- Merrilyn Walton, PhD, Associate Professor, Centre for Innovation in Professional Health Education & Research, Faculty of Medicine, University of Sydney, Australia

“At OSF HealthCare, we have used First Do No Harm, Parts 1 and 2, as the core of our safety training for over 700 leadership employees, including those with top leadership responsibilities. We found the films to be powerful tools for engaging our leaders and sparking important discussion and education in our safety journey."
- John Whittington, MD, Patient Safety Officer/Medical Director of Knowledge Management, OSF Healthcare System