Reporting and Learning Systems听
Reporting systems (frequently referred to as reporting and learning systems) capture patient safety concerns, hazards and/or incidents and are meant to trigger action, facilitate communication, response, learning and improvement. Establishing a reporting system and processes to support it, including identifying and spreading learning, is foundational to patient safety and incident management and essential to advancing a patient safety culture.听
鈥淭o close the safety gaps in my hospital, first I need to know where they are. Reporting systems serve as a map to show us where the gaps are and guide us in how to close them.鈥 -- Toolkit Faculty听
Recommended strategies听
Establish a reporting system.听
- Capture information about hazards, patient safety concerns, incidents and near misses, typically by completing a standardized or paper form听
- Consider establishing alternate reporting mechanisms such as telephone or verbal, particularly for incidents with a high potential for harm to ensure timely response (e.g. )听
- Compared to those that are mandatory, (non-legislated) reporting systems have been shown to facilitate greater reporting and learning听
- Empower and support reporting by , including the , by ensuring they can access the system听
- Engage the users, including patients/families, in developing and maintaining the system听
- Incorporate best practices into the design of the reporting system whenever possible:听
- make the system user-friendly aligning with human factors design 听
- limit the information required to what is essential and include a narrative portion to allow reporters to tell the story听
- provide an option for anonymous or confidential reporting to address concerns about potential negative consequences听
- embed automatic notification of the appropriate department head or manager, eliminating the need for the reporter to determine where to direct the information听
- acknowledge reports upon receipt conveying appreciation to the individual submitting the report听
- develop process(es) for the reporter to clarify the information submitted, if required听
- enable managers to receive and view reports in real-time to facilitate timely feedback and response听
- facilitate the review of the reports completed by the patient/family in conjunction with those completed by care providers听
- prompt users to consider external reporting or notification requirements when appropriate (e.g. , )听
- create easy-to-use data extraction capability to support timely improvement at the local, organizational and system-wide levels听
- ensure appropriate data confidentiality and security (including de-identification), in accordance with applicable legislation and organizational policies听
Establish processes that support reporting systems.听
- Develop and/or review existing reporting policies, procedures, education and training (example of policy and guideline from AHS) to ensure users know what, how and when to report:听
- emphasize that reporting is a positive action that contributes to patient safety, and neither the person who reports nor those involved in or caused the event will be reprimanded听
- develop tools and resources specifically for patients/families听
- ensure roles and accountabilities around incident reporting are clearly delineated and that staff is familiar with reporting procedures and tools听
- clearly communicate what happens to the information once it is entered into the reporting system听
- Integrate reporting processes and the responsibility for reporting within existing work processes, structures and accountabilities including role descriptions, staff orientation and leadership development programs听
- Allocate adequate resources (including technical and administrative) to maintain the reporting system and its related processes including data analysis, follow-up, and system oversight听
- Address potential organizational barriers to reporting:听
- cultivate a patient safety culture, specifically addressing the potential fears associated with reporting, , and the risk of reprisal听
- develop and train leaders to promote openness, facilitate learning, empower teams, and welcome differing perspectives听
Optimize and share learning from reporting systems.听
- Analyze data from the reporting system to identify patient safety gaps听
- Integrate reporting system information with other data sources to anticipate听 and mitigate clinical risk and system vulnerabilities as well as to identify system strengths听
- Provide updates on lessons learned and improvements made as a result of reporting as part of routine processes, e.g. regular agenda item at staff and board meetings, 鈥済ood catch鈥 stories in newsletters, summaries at town hall meetings听
- Consider sharing lessons learned with patients, families, communities, public and tailor communication to the needs of the specific audience, e.g. quantitative analyses, patient stories, trend summaries, poster campaigns, social media, blogs听
- Evaluate the effectiveness of the reporting system and its related feedback mechanisms on a regular basis and make improvements听
- Update the data elements collected to ensure relevance and incorporate identification of emerging issues