title: Incident reports--correcting processes and reducing errors.
abstract: Although it may be human nature to make mistakes, it also is human nature to create solutions, identify alternatives, and meet future challenges. This article describes systems approaches to assessing the ways in which an organization operates and explains the types of failures that cause errors. The steps that guide managers in adapting an incident reporting system that incorporates continuous quality improvement are identified.
authors.affiliation: St Joseph's Wayne Hospital, NJ, USA.
authors.forename: Debra
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Dunn
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D019221:Mandatory Reporting; D019300:Medical Errors / Q000145:classification / Q000517:prevention & control; D008508:Medication Errors / Q000517:prevention & control; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D013527:Perioperative Nursing; D012308:Risk Management / Q000458:organization & administration*; D013597:Systems Analysis; D017749:Total Quality Management; D014481:United States