Methods in Reducing Medical Errors Systems Approaches

Systems Approach:

“Medical care relies on the integrated efforts of a complex network of people and support services.”
(Cosby & Crosskerry, 2003, p. 73)

“Humans err. We’re made that way.”
“Errors are attributes of systems”
“Errors result from a confluence of causes”
(Weingart, 2006)

“We can’t change the human condition, but we can change the conditions under which humans work.” (Reason, 2000)

“Recognizing that medical errors are the fault of systems and not of individuals, (QuIC, 2000)
the purpose of hearing from this panel was to identify how improving patient safety can be a health care system-wide endeavor. …Some common themes raised by this panel were: confidentiality and protection, human factors, organizational/cultural issues, reporting systems, use of technology, and training of providers.”

Setting
ED, hospital
People
Physicians
Nurses
Pharmacists
Technicians
Administrators
Support systems
Radiology, laboratory, e.g.
Organization
(Cosby & Croskerry, 2003)