What do radiology incident reports reveal about in-hospital communication processes and the use of health information technology?
BACKGROUND
There has been recent rapid growth in the use of medical imaging leading to concerns about an increase in unnecessary investigations, patient exposure to radiation, and incorrect diagnoses. Incident reporting systems provide a portal for staff to catalogue adverse events which occur within a hospital or department. Analysing incident reports can reveal trends and provide guidance for quality improvement efforts.


METHODS
Classification of medical imaging related-incidents from a major teaching hospital in Sydney, Australia using WHO International Classification for Patient Safety (ICPS) taxonomy. All incidents with radiology identified as incident location (n=219) were extracted. Incidents were from January 2005 to October 2011. Two researchers independently cleaned the data set. One researcher then applied the ICPS to free text incident reports.


RESULTS
216 unique incidents were extracted. 15 incidents were unable to be classified using the ICPS. 8 incidents were classified twice, resulting in 209 coded incidents. Communication breakdown was a contributing factor in 49% (103/209) of incidents reported. 147 of the 209 incidents were associated with activities associated with data collection, storage or retrieval of electronic information. Health information technology (HIT) systems were mentioned explicitly in 10% of incidents, indicating some contribution to the error.


CONCLUSIONS
Communication breakdown and HIT systems are contributors to error, and should be addressed. HIT systems need to be monitored and flaws addressed to ensure quality care.
Centre for Health Systems and Safety Research, Australian Institute of Health Innovation, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia.
Michael J
MJ
Stewart
Andrew
A
Georgiou
Antonia
A
Hordern
Marion
M
Dimigen
Johanna I
JI
Westbrook
D003952:Diagnostic Imaging / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006747:Hospital Communication Systems; D006784:Hospitals, Teaching; D006801:Humans; D019300:Medical Errors; D008490:Medical Informatics; D009517:New South Wales; D011872:Radiology Department, Hospital; D012308:Risk Management / Q000592:standards