Filed under: medicine, practice, Uncategorized | Tags: errors, health care, healthcare, healthcare systems, medical, medical errors, medical mistakes, reporting, system
Humans are imperfect, thus their actions are expected to be as well. However, in healthcare, medical errors, quite often, are the result of a breakdown in macro- and micro-systems; not necesarily the individual caregiver. Errors in healthcare are, in many instances, symptoms of systemic problems. Yet it’s not uncommon for individuals to shoulder the blame versus a deeper investigation of the system/process inside which an error was made. Let’s be honest, it’s easier and quicker that way.
Under this approach, hospitals can isolate the source (caregiver) of the error, respond quickly and move on.
But why did the error occur? Maybe the equipment is outdated, a poor records management system, not enough support staff, too many hands in the process, inadequate training, lack of protocol, etc.
When blame is unfairly cast, it’s no wonder doctors do not report all incidences…
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Errors in health care are most often multifactorial and generally involve multiple errors in processes. We often try to solve these issues by using cock pit analogies and assume that errors can be eliminated entirely. Unfortunately things in health care are not so easy. Not only is their the human factors of doctors and nurses, but frequently patients play an unintentional role in leading to bad outcomes as well.
Comment by Country Doc September 20, 2008 @ 7:21 pmI appreciate your insight and expertise Country Doc. Please continue to contribute and correct.
Comment by schoons September 25, 2008 @ 5:35 am