ABSTRACT
Analysis The investigation of medical errors can be relatively informal and haphazard, performed by those who are immediately available and well intentioned, who apply what seems to be good common sense under the circumstances and with just a vague hope that the problems will then go away. In contrast, there could be a dedicated analysis performed in an organized manner by a specialist trained in such matters. Fortunately, there are proven methodologies, with refined techniques, that can be applied by highly experienced specialists in such fields. This includes adaptations of system safety, human factors, reliability engineering, quality assurance, industrial engineering, and human error analysis. This chapter describes some of the analytic approaches that could be applied to the control of medical error and indicating the benefits and limitations of each approach. A choice of techniques can be made based on need but much depends on the individuals assigned to such efforts and their personal talents and skills. The analysis guidelines and procedures that are presented could vastly improve many current disorganized efforts at error reduction.
