Assessment and evaluation of patient safety reports: When should we intervene?

Abstract

The impact of medical errors on patient outcomes has been well-described. Multiple avenues for documenting and addressing patient safety events have been created, including quality outcome registries and adverse event databases. This paper summarizes key data and definitions related to medical errors, as well as systems for monitoring them. We also offer considerations for how to interpret and act on these reports, at the hospital- or vascular surgery division-specific level.