Tackling Surgery’s Hidden Problem: Adverse Events Reporting

Tackling Surgery’s Hidden Problem: Adverse Events Reporting

Adverse Events Reporting

In spite of the connection between adverse events and higher risk for negative outcomes, adverse events reporting remains disturbingly low.

This White Paper Explains:

• The perceptions (and pitfalls) of adverse events reporting
• Cultural, systematic, and technological barriers
• The real financial impact on healthcare providers
• Potential solutions to foster a better reporting culture

Medical chart review and data collection can improve individual care management but fail to address device and procedural issues that can impact outcomes and result in harm. All-cause harm events are associated with a high likelihood of readmissions within 30 days, meaning hospitals take a serious hit in receiving payment. Intraoperative adverse events also correlate to a significant increase in total hospitalization charges.

Solutions to all-cause harm reporting require a sociotechnical approach, addressing culture, process, technology, and how they connect. Not reporting (or under-reporting) events leaves little opportunity for institutional learning and causes a serious information gap that could save a patient’s life.

Solutions