Disclosure听
Disclosure is a formal process involving open discussion between a patient/family and members of a healthcare organization about a patient safety incident (including near misses). Disclosure provides the means for dialogue throughout the incident management process, supports patient safety improvement and promotes healing for the patients/families and providers involved.听听
It generally occurs in two broad stages (initial and post-analysis) and is an ongoing process in which multiple disclosure conversations occur over time.听听
鈥溾t made me feel that I could trust my provider because, I mean she took responsibility鈥 had remorse about what happened.听 She wasn鈥檛 defensive.鈥听-- A family member听
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鈥淚 wasn鈥檛 allowed to be a part of the disclosure process, I needed to see the family of the boy who died; I needed to say: 鈥業鈥檓 sorry.鈥櫶 I鈥檒l always wonder if they know how sorry I am and how it changed my practice.鈥听 -- A healthcare provider听
Recommended Strategies听
Before an incident听
Confirm that organizational processes support disclosure听
- Establish guiding principles for disclosure (e.g. patient-centred healthcare, patient autonomy, honesty and transparency, patient safety, just culture, learning and improvement).听
- Develop disclosure policies, procedures and tools aligned with the organization鈥檚 guiding principles, disciplinary/accountability systems, legislation, regulatory/licensing requirements, and that:听
- involve patients/ families and frontline staff in their development听
- articulate when and where disclosure should take place and how it should be 听
- include supports and available to the patient/family and healthcare providers听
- provide guidance on how to deal with the in the event of a public disclosure听
- incorporate processes that address special circumstances such as multi-patient disclosures, paediatric patients or those with mental health issues, or incidents related to research听
- are easily accessible to all, including frontline staff and patients/families (e.g. public site)听
- are updated regularly to ensure relevance and alignment with other policies and current context听
- Provide disclosure training programs and educational resources for staff and patients/families.听
- Allocate resources to assist patients/families involved in patient safety incidents, ensuring they are available without delay (e.g. practical, emotional, financial).听
- Allocate resources to assist staff at the frontline involved in patient safety incidents as needed, including disclosure support and coaching.听
After an incident听
Develop a specific disclosure plan听
- After caring for the immediate needs of the patient/family and providers, develop a customized disclosure plan specific to the incident and the ongoing needs of those involved.听
- If possible, conduct a pre-disclosure team huddle to determine the best approach, including:听
- when the initial disclosure will occur taking into consideration patient/family readiness and preferences听
- where the disclosure will take place, preferably a private area that is free of interruptions or off-site if indicated听
- what information will be shared with the patient/family, including confirmation of the known undisputed facts听
- who is the best person to initiate disclosure and coordinate the ongoing disclosure听
- how the care providers involved in the incident will be supported听
- how the patient/family will be supported and their questions/concerns addressed听
- how disclosure will be documented听
- Inquire with the patient/family who will attend the meeting, encourage the patient/family not to attend alone (e.g. other family members, friends, translator, spiritual support), and ask if the patient/family have preferences on who should attend or not attend from the care team.听
Initiate initial disclosure听
- Use language and terminology that the patient/family can easily understand.Avoid speculation or blame.听
- Introduce the participants to the patient/family, including their functions and reasons for attendance.听
- Acknowledge the incident or that something unexpected has happened and express apology using the words 鈥業鈥檓 sorry鈥.听
- Provide an overview of how the meeting will run and ask how the patient/family would like to participate.听
- Ask about concerns and questions the patient/family would like to discuss and offer support or resources if needed.听
- Share the following information:听
- the currently known facts of the incident听
- the steps for ensuring the ongoing care and well-being of the patient (e.g. clinical care, treatment)听
- a brief overview of the incident analysis process including expected timelines and what the patient/family can expect during the process听
- Offer the patient/family an opportunity to speak about their experience and ask questions.听
- Ask about preferences for future involvement and information (how, when, where).听
- Ask the patient/family to identify a contact person.听
- Designate a key contact person from the organization who will provide regular updates.听
- Provide practical and emotional support (e.g. spiritual care services, counselling, social work, family arrangements, reimbursement of expenses associated with the disclosure process).听
- Document the disclosure discussion in accordance with organizational policies.Include:听
- the time, place, date, the names and relationships of all attendees听
- the facts presented听
- offers of assistance made and the response, questions raised and the answers given听
- patient/family preferences about future disclosure discussions听
- plans for follow-up and key contact information for the organization and the patient/family听
Continue disclosure throughout the incident management process as needed听
- Continue to be engaged with the patient/family according to their preferences:听
- continue to offer practical and emotional support听
- transparently correct any incorrect or incomplete information that was provided in previous disclosure meetings听
- provide new factual information as it becomes available听
- offer a further apology which might include an acknowledgement of responsibility for what happened as appropriate and in accordance with organizational policies and applicable legislation听
- describe any actions that are taken as result of the internal analysis such as system improvements in accordance with organizational policies and applicable legislation听
- Continue to offer updates, and practical and emotional support for providers.听
- Ensure providers maintain involvement in the disclosure process as appropriate, particularly if leadership takes on a larger role in the post analysis stage.听
- Continue to document disclosure discussions per organizational policies.听