A novel error-reporting tool in pediatric intensive care.
Patient safety is a critical component of the U.S. healthcare system: thousands of people, including children, die or are injured yearly as a result of medical error. We designed and implemented a novel error-reporting tool for the pediatric intensive care unit. More errors were reported with the use of this paper-based tool than with the existing computerized error-reporting system. We also developed a scoring system to assess potential harm to the patient. The tool provided information about frequent and high-risk errors that guided successful improvements in patient care and safety and the achievement of measurable success.
Kolovos
Nikoleta S
NS
Division of Critical Care Medicine, St. Louis Children's Hospital, St. Louis, MO, USA. kolovos@wustl.edu
Bratton
Susan L
SL
Levy
Fiona H
FH
D004282:Documentation; D006801:Humans; D015278:Intensive Care Units, Pediatric; D019300:Medical Errors; D008923:Missouri; D019982:Organizational Case Studies; D017751:Safety Management / Q000458:organization & administration