IMPROVING PATIENT SAFETY THROUGH COUNTY-WIDE COLLABORATION

About the Program

Category: Risk and Emergency Management (Best in Category)

Year: 2017

In 2013, the County of Los Angeles Legal Exposure Reduction Committee (LERC) Medical Malpractice Sub-committee implemented a Countywide risk reduction system of reporting, tracking, and reviewing adverse patient care events for all medical services Departments in the County (Health Services [DHS], Mental Health [DMH], Public Health [DPH], Fire, Sheriff), under protection of the Patient Safety and Quality Improvement Act (PSQIA) of 2005. The goal was for all medical services departments to use the same reporting system for all adverse patient events, Countywide, to provide better patient care to its constituents through tracking, analyzing, reporting, and correcting adverse and/or near miss patient events. This project consisted of hiring a vendor (Vizient) to facilitate the implementation of a web-based, multi-user, secure risk management data platform that was user friendly and allowed for the creation of queries and reports. These features were deemed essential to capture significant adverse events, corrective actions, surveys, and litigation costs resulting in a safer, more efficient health system. One of the key components of the system is the Event Reporting Module. For example, if an incident occurs, employees can enter the information in the system, including anonymous reports. All reports are sent to the department’s management staff, which triggers management review and corrective actions. Uninhibited reporting of adverse events or conditions that predispose to adverse events is necessary in safe and effective healthcare systems, and strongly encouraged by the County of Los Angeles Board of Supervisors.