In clinical settings, quality management software can improve the handling of medical errors and adverse events, incidents, and near misses.
In this article, we:
- briefly outline the context for approaching medical errors
- offer recent statistics about medical errors
- explore how a digital QMS can improve handling of medical errors.
Context for approaching medical errors
Errors in clinical settings are almost inevitable. Even in excellent hospitals and practices, undesirable events can and do occur.
These events can put patients at risk and can expose health practitioners to potentially sever legal consequences so it’s important that these errors are handled head on.
Statistics about medical errors
A landmark U.S. Institute of Medicine (IOM) report from 2000 found that an estimated 44,000 to 98,000 deaths each year were due to medical errors.
A more recent study found that 250,000 people in the United States die from medical errors each year. This makes medical errors the third leading cause of death in the US.
Sentinel events in clinical settings are defined as an incident where a patient died, was permanently harmed, suffered severe temporary harm or an intervention was required to sustain life.
The ten most frequently reported sentinel events in 2021 were:
- falls
- delay in treatment
- unintended retention of a foreign object
- wrong surgical site
- patient suicide
- assault/rape/sexual assault of a patient
- patient self-harm
- fire
- medication management
- clinical alarm response.
The best approach to handling medical errors for both healthcare providers and patients is to encourage open reporting and to have a suitable response system in place.
How a digital QMS can improve handling of medical errors
A quality management system (QMS) is a big part of handling and mitigating medical errors. A digital QMS is the norm these days because they offer a centralized system with automation and accessibility.
Complaint recordkeeping
A digital QMS can help standardize what data is captured and how, helping to streamline the process of complaint recordkeeping. It also allows for granular control of data access and authorizations.
Reliable and complete recordkeeping is also vital for demonstrating compliance with healthcare regulations and standards. It can also aid in accurate reporting of adverse or sentinel events.
Here in the US, voluntary reporting of sentinel event has enabled the Joint Commission to create a database identifying risk factors and trends.
Automated systems for ensuring follow-up
A digital QMS includes automated workflows that assist with tracking and recording corrective and preventive actions.
These systems make it easier to assign individual responsibilities and deadlines with automated notifications of approaching or missed deadlines, and automated escalation if issues are not resolved.
A central repository for learning
Having comprehensive cloud-based records also creates a centralized reference to help with training and learning that can be accessed from anywhere in the world with the correct clearance.
A digital QMS allows constant and real-time access to consistent records of errors and adverse events, the response measures that were taken and, where relevant, details of their effectiveness.
Improved risk management
In addition to being a learning reference, having a centralized QMS can also help identify patterns and root causes which inform risk management strategies.
Basing a risk management approach on real-life data makes it more likely that future errors can be prevented and supports continuous improvement to the quality of patient care.
Centralized control of policies and policy updates
A cloud-based, centralized QMS also provides control over policy and process documents including those relating to adverse or sentinel events.
All relevant and authorized personnel can have access to the latest approved versions of necessary documentation from any location.
This is also essential for staff training to ensure no one is learning from outdated or unapproved source material.
QMS software from isoTracker
isoTracker offers modular QMS software that makes handling medical errors easier so they can be accurately recorded for the future safety of patients and medical staff.
isoTracker’s cloud-based system includes software for document management, complaints management, CAPA, non-conformance management, audit management and risk management.
Get a free 60-day trial with full access to all modules as well as regular walk-through emails and contact person to answer all your questions. See our pricing schedule here.
