BACKGROUND: Critical incident reporting is a key tool in the promotion of patient safety in anaesthesia. METHODS: We surveyed representatives of national incident reporting systems in six European countries, inviting information on scope and organization, and intelligence on factors determining success and failure. RESULTS: Some systems are government-run and nationally conceived; others started out as small, specialty-focused initiatives, which have since acquired a national reach. However, both national co-ordination and specialty enthusiasts seem to be necessary for an optimally functioning system. The role of reporting culture, definitional issues, and dissemination is discussed. CONCLUSIONS: We make recommendations for others intending to start new systems and speculate on the prospects for sharing patient safety lessons relevant to anaesthesia at European level.
BACKGROUND: Critical incident reporting is a key tool in the promotion of patient safety in anaesthesia. METHODS: We surveyed representatives of national incident reporting systems in six European countries, inviting information on scope and organization, and intelligence on factors determining success and failure. RESULTS: Some systems are government-run and nationally conceived; others started out as small, specialty-focused initiatives, which have since acquired a national reach. However, both national co-ordination and specialty enthusiasts seem to be necessary for an optimally functioning system. The role of reporting culture, definitional issues, and dissemination is discussed. CONCLUSIONS: We make recommendations for others intending to start new systems and speculate on the prospects for sharing patient safety lessons relevant to anaesthesia at European level.
Authors: Josephine Hegarty; Sarah Jane Flaherty; Mohamad M Saab; John Goodwin; Nuala Walshe; Teresa Wills; Vera J C McCarthy; Siobhan Murphy; Alana Cutliffe; Elaine Meehan; Ciara Landers; Elaine Lehane; Aoife Lane; Margaret Landers; Caroline Kilty; Deirdre Madden; Mary Tumelty; Corina Naughton Journal: J Patient Saf Date: 2021-12-01 Impact factor: 2.243