Pediatric Informatics: Computer Applications in Child Health (Health ...

Chapter 30
Error Reporting Systems
David C. Stockwell and Anthony D. Slonim
Objectives
Provide a framework for quality and safety improvement
Outline traditional and electronic error collection methods and tools, their
strengths and weaknesses
Describe an example of the use of trigger tools in pediatrics
30.1 Introduction
The ability to detect errors in medicine is an important starting point for programmatic
interventions aimed at improving patient safety. While information technology
has the ability to improve many aspects of healthcare, the optimization of error
reporting can ultimately improve error reduction because of the focus it brings to
system defects.
30.2 Quality, Safety, and Errors
The healthcare industry has become increasingly focused on outcomes. The
Institute of Medicine (IOM) reports on healthcare quality were intended to improve
the healthcare services delivered to individuals and populations, 1–3 and discussions
on quality, safety and errors are more prominent as a result.
30.2.1 Quality
Quality of care is defined in terms of health outcomes for individuals and populations.
Thus, institutional improvements in care delivery should result in measurable
improvements in outcomes. For adult medicine, core quality measures are well
C.U. Lehmann et al. (eds.), Pediatric Informatics: Computer Applications 385
in Child Health, Health Informatics,
© Springer Science + Business Media, LLC 2009