The systematic process of documenting any unexpected or adverse events, near misses, or errors that occur in healthcare settings. This includes reporting incidents involving patients, staff, or visitors, to improve patient safety and quality of care.
Any incident that results in harm to a patient or a deviation from the normal expected outcome of medical care. Adverse events can include medication errors, patient falls, surgical complications, infections, and other incidents that compromise patient safety.
An incident that has the potential to cause harm to a patient, staff member, or visitor but is caught before any harm occurs. Near misses are important to report because they indicate potential vulnerabilities in the healthcare system that could lead to future adverse events if not addressed.
The prevention of harm to patients during the provision of healthcare services. This includes minimizing risks and errors, ensuring effective communication among healthcare providers, and promoting a culture of safety within healthcare organizations.
A structured method used to analyze the underlying causes of adverse events or near misses. RCA seeks to identify the primary factors contributing to an incident, rather than focusing solely on the immediate cause, to implement preventive measures and reduce the likelihood of recurrence.
The continuous process of assessing and improving the quality of healthcare services to enhance patient outcomes. Incident reporting plays a crucial role in quality improvement by identifying areas for improvement and implementing strategies to prevent future incidents.
The process of identifying, assessing, and mitigating risks to patient safety and organizational assets. Incident reporting is an essential component of risk management as it helps healthcare organizations proactively identify and address potential risks before they escalate into adverse events.
The degree of harm or potential harm caused by an incident. Incidents are often categorized based on severity levels, such as minor, moderate, or severe, to prioritize response efforts and allocate resources appropriately.
The systematic recording of incident details, including the date, time, location, individuals involved, description of the incident, contributing factors, and any actions taken in response. Accurate and thorough documentation is essential for analyzing incidents, implementing corrective actions, and maintaining transparency.
The ethical principle of safeguarding sensitive information obtained during incident reporting to protect the privacy and confidentiality of patients, staff, and other individuals involved. Healthcare organizations must adhere to confidentiality laws and policies when collecting, storing, and sharing incident reports to maintain trust and integrity within the healthcare system.