Developing a patient safety incident classification system for primary care. A literature review and Delphi-survey by the LINNEAUS collaboration on patient safety in primary care.
BACKGROUND
Despite awareness that comparative analysis of patient safety data from several data sources would promote risk reduction, there has been little effort to establish an incident classification system that is generally applicable to patient safety data in European primary care.


OBJECTIVE
To describe the development of a patient safety incident classification system for primary care.


METHODS
A systematic review was followed by an expert group discussion and a modified Delphi survey, to provide consensus statements.


RESULTS
We developed a classification system providing a mechanism for classifying patient safety incidents across Europe, taking into account the varying organizational arrangements that exist for primary care. It takes into account organizational processes and outcomes related to patient safety incidents and can supplement existing classification systems.


CONCLUSIONS
Classification systems are key tools in the analysis of patient safety incidents. A system that has relevance for primary care is now available.
a Goethe University Frankfurt am Main, Institute of General Practice , Frankfurt am Main , Germany.
Kerstin
K
Klemp
Susan
S
Dovey
Jose M
JM
Valderas
Julia
J
Rohe
Maciek
M
Godycki-Cwirko
Phillip
P
Elliott
Martin
M
Beyer
Ferdin M
FM
Gerlach
Barbara
B
Hoffmann
D003697:Delphi Technique; D006801:Humans; D019300:Medical Errors / Q000145:classification*; D061214:Patient Safety; D011320:Primary Health Care
LINNEAUS collaboration; Patient safety; classification; medical error; primary healthcare; taxonomy