Setting up a database of medical error in general practice: conceptual and methodological considerations

TY - JOUR

T1 - Setting up a database of medical error in general practice: conceptual and methodological considerations

AU - Sheikh, A

AU - Hurwitz, B

PY - 2001

Y1 - 2001

N2 - Though common and the cause of much morbidity and health cost, medical error has until recently attracted little attention from primary care workers. A database that logs medical error, operating within the context of clinical governance initiatives at the level of Primary Care Groups, could provide an appropriate framework within which to scrutinise and identify systematic organisational features associated with risk of serious adverse events. This paper discusses some of the key conceptual and methodological issues that need to be resolved before such a database can be implemented in general practice and considers these deliberations in the light of the Chief Medical Officer for England's recent report, An organisation with a memory.

AB - Though common and the cause of much morbidity and health cost, medical error has until recently attracted little attention from primary care workers. A database that logs medical error, operating within the context of clinical governance initiatives at the level of Primary Care Groups, could provide an appropriate framework within which to scrutinise and identify systematic organisational features associated with risk of serious adverse events. This paper discusses some of the key conceptual and methodological issues that need to be resolved before such a database can be implemented in general practice and considers these deliberations in the light of the Chief Medical Officer for England's recent report, An organisation with a memory.

M3 - Article

SN - 1478-5242

VL - 51

SP - 57

EP - 60

JO - British Journal of General Practice

JF - British Journal of General Practice

IS - 462

ER -