Objective To provide evidence for establishing a medical risk precaution and monitoring system in China by evidence-based evaluation of the medical risk monitoring and precaution system in Canada, including the current situation and corresponding prevention measures. Method According to the unified search strategy made by our research group, we searched relevant databases and official or government websites. We included articles about medical risk management, medical error and patient safety in Canada. The included articles were classified and the quality was ranked. Results A total of 15 articles were included, among which 10 were official documents (about 2/3) and 5 described research methods (about 1/3), mainly involving medical risk management or evaluation, medical error and patient safety. In 2002, Canada established its National Steering Committee on Patient Safety (NSCPS) and proposed the suggestions to integrate health care resources accross the country, build a patient safety system, and established the Canada Patient Safety Institution (CPSI) to improve patient safety. Canada revised the patient safety management system, collected and issued related information, strengthened doctor-patient communication, developed continuous education for medical staff, practiced the best medical behavior and model and improved lawsuit procedures. These activities have achieved great progress in practice. Conclusions What have been done in Canada will provide a guide for us to establish scientific patient safety system and promote public awareness of patient safety.
Objective To provide reference for medical risk management by evidence-based evaluation of the status of coal-mining risk management in China. Methods We searched databases of EI (1969 to 2005), SDOS (1995 to 2005), Vip (1989 to 2005), Wanfang (up to 2005), and CNKI (1994 to 2005), as well as some official websites, for English and Chinese articles related to coal-mining safety, risk management, precaution, and response to mine disasters in China. Results Total of 19 articles, including 9 official documents, 4 research articles, and 6 expert comments were included. Recently the number of coal-mining disasters has declined in China, but still much larger than that in US. The safety status of small coal mines (90% of total coal mines in China) was much more severe. The response and precaution system of coal mining disaster in China was poor. Conclusion Medical service in China may take the following measures based on lessons from coal mining industry to improve its risk management: ① Strengthen the management of small clinics (68.24% of total medical organizations in China); ② Train doctors and nurses to upgrade their perception of medical risk; ③ Establish self-report system of medical malpractices, errors, and accidents.
Objective By reviewing and analyzing the experiences and lessons of American hurricane risk management, this study aims to explore the possible application of constructing the system for medical risk management in China. Methods We searched the EI database (1969 to 2005), OVID database (1966 to 2005), Superstar electronic library and some websites such as Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The retrieved articles were screened independently by two reviewers according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria. The included articles were classified and the quality was ranked. Results Total of 227 articles and 1 book met the eligibility criteria. The articles related to risk prediction occupy 73.13%. The American hurricane database can be traced back to 1886. Disaster Relief Act was promulgated in 1950, and there were various types of policies for disaster risk management. The FEMA, set up in 1979, played a key role in disaster risk management. The precaution was announced according to the different levels of hurricane risk, and the forecasts were mainly made by NOAA. The American government and some non-governmental organizations were involved in hurricane emergent responses concerning both physical and mental health of the public. In addition, there were many methods to evaluate and predict hurricane risk. The main lessons from hurricane Katrina risk management lay inunderestimation of the risk and political discrimination. Conclusion There are both distinctive advantages and disadvantages in the present status of American hurricane risk management. As the monitoring and precaution system of medical risk management in China are still in an initial stage, we can learn the experience and lessons from American hurricane risk management to construct and run our system of medical risk management better.
Objective To provide reference for medical risk management by systematically reviewing the hterature on aviation risk management abroad. Methods We searched the SCOPUS database and related websites, and handsearched related journals, for literatures on the history, experience, and models of aviation risk management, and their relationship to medical risk management. Rationale and method of evidence-based science were used to appraise and analyze the included hterature. Results Aviation and medical industry were both with the characteristics of high technology, high risk, and high professional. The aviation risk management system including the unique information reporting system, risk analyzing tools and models covered the whole process of information collecting, analyzing and managing, and with the emphasis on systematical construction. Conclusions Medical risk management in China should base on its own characteristics, taking the following experiences from aviation risk management into account： （1） establishing incident and shght ~fistake reporting system, with management mechanism and legal support. Pilot experiments should be practiced in high-risk department; （2） developing a training model hke Crew Resources Management（ CRM）, emphasizing non-technical skills training; （3） reinforcing staff and environment management for the control of human-origin risk; （4） constructing database for better information collection and analysis, developing and using perspective analyzing tools; （5） assessing the safety culture of medical organization with the tools used by aviation industry, and taking the experience of aviation safety culture construction.
Objective To analyze experiences of medical risk management in the United Kingdom so as to explore the possible application for the construction of a Chinese medical risk monitoring and early warning system. Methods We searched Engineering Information, SCI and SSCI, EMBASE, SCOPUS with 100% MEDLINE, VIP, CNKI, and government or official websites. This search was conducted in Jan. 2006. We included articles about medical risk, patient safety and medical errors in the UK. Languages of articles were limited either in English or in Chinese. Results Eleven articles were included, of which 9 article are evidence of level B (about 80%) and the other 2 are evidence of level C (about 20%). The report of “An Organization with a Memory” revealed the severity of medical errors and adverse events in the UK in 2000, and subsequently Minister Blair announced a five-year reform program for NHS. Within 7 years of reform, NHS budget has been increased from £33 billion to £674 billion,(check numbers-doesn’t sound correct) the National Patient Safety Agency (NPSA) and the New National System for learning from adverse events and near misses have been established, a series of practicable measures aimed at ensuring patient safety, preventing medical risk and improving healthcare quality have been implemented, all of which have effectively resolved many problems that perplexed the government and public, such as patients waiting time, range of NHS service, the availability of medical facility and mortality induced by high-risk diseases. Conclusion There are both advantages and disadvantages in the present status of the UK medical risk management. Both of them will provide a guide to prevent medical risk, improve healthcare quality and to realize the ultimate goal that everybody could share healthcare sources fairly and safely in our country.
Objective To evaluate evidence from American medical risk monitoring and precaution system (AMRMPS) which may affect the construction of Chinese medical risk monitoring and precaution system (CMRMPS). Methods We searched relevant databases and Internet resources to identify literature on AMRMPS, medical errors, and patient safety. We used the quality evaluation system for medical risk management literature to extract and evaluate data. Results In 1999, a report from the Institute of Medicine (IOM) not only showed the severity and cause of medical errors in America but also gave the solution of it. In 2000, the Quality Interagency Coordination Task Force (QuIC) was appointed to assess the IOM report and take specific steps to improve AMRMPS. After 5 years, a well-developed medical risk management system was established with the improvement in the public awareness of medical errors, patient safety, performance criteria of medical safety, information technology and error reporting system. There was still some weakness of this system in risk precaution and prevention. Conclusion The experience from AMRMPS can be used to establish the CMRMPS. Firstly, we should disseminate and strengthen the awareness of medical risk and patient safety in public. Secondly, we should establish hospital audit system which includes auditing of medical staff and course of medical risk in continuing and academic education. Thirdly, we should develop regulations and guidelines on health care, medical purchase and drug supply which will benefit in management of regular work. Fourthly, we should develop computer information system for hospital which will regulate the management without the disturbance from human. Lastly, we should emphasize outcome evaluations and strive for perfection during the process.