A multiple-hospital anaesthetic problem register: establishment of a regionally organized system for facilitated reporting of potentially recurring anaesthetic-related problems.
A regionally organized system aiming to facilitate reporting and retrieval of information about potentially recurring anaesthetic-related problems has been established, covering 20 separate hospitals. Components of the system include a reporting package to facilitate use by anaesthetists in busy clinical practice; centralized clerical support; supervision by anaesthetists; reports and laminated cards supplied to the patient; and a permanently accessible database. A new classification system for difficulties in airway management has been developed as part of the system. After initial establishment, the system has been utilized by a broad cross-section of anaesthetists in the region. The first 350 reports are described. The reporting rate is approximately 0.3% of all anaesthetics given in the region. We believe the success of this system has been primarily due to features aiming to facilitate reporting, "local" ownership and supervision by clinical anaesthetists.
Kerridge
R K
RK
Department of Anaesthesia, John Hunter Hospital, Newcastle, New South Wales.
Crittenden
M B
MB
Vutukuri
V L
VL
D000758:Anesthesia / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016208:Databases, Factual; D006751:Hospital Information Systems / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D009517:New South Wales; D012042:Registries