MEDICAL ERRORS IN LABORATORIES
Why is there a focus on medical errors in laboratories?
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Because approximately 60% to 70% of medical decisions related to diagnosis and treatment involve the laboratory, laboratory science can play a crucial role in ensuring patient-safety.
Medical errors could be ERRORS OF DIAGNOSIS Errors of treatment Errors of prevention Miscellaneous
Laboratory testing is a highly complex process. We know it should be safe but sometimes errors happen…TO ERR IS HUMAN!!
There’s A Movement On Patient Safety!!
They always used to talk about the medical errors by physicians and nurses. Now, what happened?
The publication of the Institute of Medicine (IOM) report, To Err Is Human has changed everything.
DON’T BE SHOCKED!!
A 2014 study estimated that diagnostic errors happen about 12 million times per year in US outpatients.
More than 13 billion tests are performed in over 250,000 certified clinical laboratories each year in the US, making it likely everyone will each have at least 1 test done in their life.
This represents 1 in 20 adults.
The Institute of Medicine stated that most people will experience at least one diagnostic error in their life.
In the United States, there occurs 251,000 deaths per year because of errors in medical care.
YES THAT’S TRUE!!!!
Medical errors are the third leading cause of death, only after heart disease and cancer .
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Let’s See What’s Meant By Laboratory Error….
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Source: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3689332/
Source: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3689332/
Boniniet al. in 2002 A diagnosis that is missed, wrong, or delayed, as detected by some subsequent definitive test or finding
International Organization for Standardization (ISO) Technical Report A defect occurring at any part of the laboratory cycle, from ordering tests to reporting, interpreting, and reacting to results
Check Out These Definitions Of Laboratory Error
What Is Laboratory Error?
Laboratory error is defined as any defect from ordering tests to reporting and interpretation of results. Lab test failures contribute to delayed or wrong diagnoses and unnecessary costs and care. Laboratory errors have a reported frequency of 0.012-0.6% of all test results which in turn has huge impact on diagnosis and patient management.
Total Testing Process In The Laboratory
brain Physician's Interpretation Ordering Collection Transportation Laboratorian's Analysis
Total Testing Process
Clustered into three sections
Prof. George Lundberg described the laboratory testing as “brain-to-brain turnaround time loop”
Pre-Analytical Phase First, pre-analytical phase in which requirement for a test is determined, the test is ordered and the patient is identified.
Analytical Phase The pre-analytical phase is followed by specimen collection and transport to the laboratory. The specimen is prepared and tested in the analytical phase.
Postanalytical phase During the postanalytical phase, the results are reported to the individual who ordered the test and any action or intervention is undertaken.
That’s no longer the situation. You’ll be surprised to know that pre-analytical and postanalytical phase are more prone to error!!
I always thought most errors occur in analytical phase, and paid attention to proper calibration and testing!
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Plebani And Carraro (Clin. Chem. 1997)
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Evaluation and characterization of errors occurring in a stat (emergency) laboratory. Plebani and Carraro reported that 189 out of 40490 tests were wrong. Most errors occurred in the preanalytical phase; only 13% occurred in the intra-analytical phase.
Pre-analytical 68% Intra-analytical 13% Post- Analytical 19%
189 out of 40490 tests (0,47%) were wrong in an emercency laboratory
Errors Occurring In The Different Analytical Phase:
Types of Errors in the three phases of Total Testing Process
Image result for unnecessary laboratory test cartoon
Pre-analytical phase
Inappropriate laboratory test requisition
Incomplete laboratory request forms.
Wrong patient identification
Wrong labelling of the containers
Improper specimen collection
Delayed transportation of specimen
Errors in specimen preparation
EXAMPLES OF ERRORS IN
Analytical phase Instrument not calibrated Specimens mix-up Incorrect volume of specimen Interfering substances present Instrument precision problems Delayed transportation of specimen Procedure not followed
Post-analytical phase Incorrect reference value Physician not notified of a panic or critical value Incorrect interpretation of lab results by physician Incorrect data entry of lab results Instrument precision problems Dilution and pipetting errors Procedure not followed
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Minimize the laboratory errors by Quality Management System
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Related image
Two Standards Organizations ISO CLSI International Organization for Standardization Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute
ISO Documents – Laboratory ISO9001:2000 Quality Management System Requirements Model for QA in design, development production, installation, and servicing. ISO/IEC 17025:2005 General requirements for the competence of testing and calibration laboratories ISO15189:2007 Quality management in the clinical laboratory
Why do laboratory errors occur?
Inadequate attention to detail Poor sample control Poor results verification Quality control and assessment Understaffed Non-validated tests Poor workload management Time pressure Poor quality management
A laboratory is a complex system and all aspects must function properly to achieve quality.
The entire process of managing a sample must be considered: The beginning: sample collection; The end: reporting and saving of results; All processes in between
CLSI QUALITY DOCUMENTS
HS1-A2 A Quality Management System Model for Healthcare Describes quality system model, 12 essentials Aligns to ISO 15189 and parallels ISO9000 Applies to all healthcare systems
GP26-A3 Application of Quality Management System Model for Laboratory Services Describes laboratory application of quality system model Relates the path of workflow to the quality system essentials Assists laboratory in improving processes Relates to HS1-A2 and ISO 15189
Sample Transport Sample Collection Laoratory Analysis Report Creation PATH OF WORKFLOW Report Transport Result Interpretation
The Patient
Pre-examination Phase
Examination Phase
Post-examination Phase
How to apply the six aims of the Institute of Medicine (IOM) to improve health care quality within Laboratory Practice
According to The American Society for Clinical Laboratory Science (ASCLS)
Medical Laboratory Professionals are stewards of patient safety and must promote a culture of safety defined by the IOM as safe, effective, patient-centered, timely, efficient, and equitable practice.
IOM’s Aims Description Self care Avoiding injuries to patients Effective care Providing care based on scientific knowledge Patient- centered care Providing respectful and responsive care that ensures that patient values guide clinical decisions Timely care Reducing waits for both recipients and providers of care Efficient care Avoiding waste Equitable care Ensuring that the quality of care does not vary because of characteristics such as gender, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, or geographic location
Source: The American Society for Clinical Laboratory Science (ASCLS )
The aim of clinical laboratory science and the services it provides is to improve patients' lives during the total testing process. Although each phase of the total testing process is important to safe care, increased efforts must be placed on evaluating diagnostic services by IOM measures of health outcomes:
Safe laboratory testing assures care that avoids harm to patients and enhances safe care outcomes through error prevention, continuous process improvement, and appropriate care for each individual.
Effective care uses scientific knowledge to limit overuse, underuse, and misuse of laboratory testing services.
Patient-centered laboratory care is responsive to, and respectful of, patient preferences, needs, and values, and must include either face-to-face or written communication for patients about medical laboratory tests and patient rights.
Timely laboratory services reduce wait times for patients and other providers of healthcare, so that the next step in care is not delayed.
Efficient laboratory services avoid waste, which includes time, supplies, equipment, energy, and ideas.
Equitable laboratory services do not vary in quality due to patient characteristics such as gender, ethnicity, geographic location or socioeconomic status, and are tailored for individual circumstances.
Ensure patient is focus of practices
Provide evidence-based laboratory practice for effective healthcare
Apply quality improvement principles to healthcare processes to reduce opportunities for errors that could harm patients and to improve patient outcomes;
Use informatics as an essential component of their practice, due to advanced technology of laboratory testing systems and integrated systems to manage and communicate information for laboratory testing systems;
Bring laboratory testing expertise to interprofessional healthcare teams as they develop and provide standards of care.
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Adopt these IOM competencies into daily practice
12 Essentials of Quality Management in Laboratory
PERSONNEL – Competent staff is the most important asset of a clinical laboratory. The quality management system must emphasize on training, motivation and engagement of the staff.
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ORGANIZATION – The laboratory must have a formal quality management system that supports standardized procedures. Management must ensure a quality driven culture along with an effective monitoring framework.
EQUIPMENT – All laboratory equipment must be maintained properly.
PURCHASING AND INVENTORY – It is important to make sure that raw inputs and other supplies are of high quality consistently. Also, materials and supplies must be stored properly.
PROCESS CONTROL – This includes collection, handling, method verification and process validation. Activities must be followed as per the standard protocol.
INFORMATION MANAGEMENT – All kinds of information and data must be managed in a manner that ensures accuracy, security, confidentiality and accessibility to only the authorized personnel.
ASSESSMENT - Laboratories must compare their performance with internal quality standards as well as with industry benchmarks.
OCCURRENCE MANAGEMENT – Laboratory must be able to detect the occurrence of any error or non-conformance. Investigations can be facilitated to identify the root cause of the errors and prevent their future occurrence. .
DOCUMENTS AND RECORDS – Create standard operating procedures (SOPs) for each process. Ensure that the relevant documents are available at the working stations, and are maintained accurately and securely.
PROCESS IMPROVEMENT – Laboratories must practice continuous improvement of its processes.
CUSTOMER SERVICE – Laboratories should aim towards providing a positive customer experience through understanding the customers’ needs and make improvements by gathering customer feedback.
FACILITIES AND SAFETY – Laboratories should create comprehensive set of procedures and standards related to worker safety, lab security, and hazard containment procedures. This will help to ensure a safe, secure and clean environment. .
Organization Personnel Equipment Purchasing And Inventory Process Control Information Management Documents And Records Occurrence Management Assessment Process Improvement Customer Service Facilities And Safety
Patient Safety
Laboratory Services: 2020 National Patient Safety Goals
The purpose of the National Patient Safety Goals is to improve patient safety.
Source: https://www.jointcommission.org/standards/national-patient-safety-goals/
Source: https://www.jointcommission.org/standards/national-patient-safety-goals/
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Identify patients correctly Use at least two ways to identify patients. For example, use the patient’s name and date of birth. This is done to make sure that each patient gets the correct medicine and treatment.
Improve staff communication Get important test results to the right staff person on time.
Prevent infection Use the hand cleaning guidelines from the CDC or WHO. Set goals for improving hand cleaning. Use the goals to improve hand cleaning.
Goal 1 Ensure Correct Patient and Sample Identification At the time of specimen collection At the time of analysis At the time of result delivery
Goal 2 Ensure the verification and communication of laboratory results requiring action on the part of treating clinician
Goal 3 Ensure time outs are performed prior to starting procedures Correct test preparation Correct patient position Safety precautions based on patient history or medication use
Goal 4 Ensure the identification, communication and correction of errors
Goal 5 Improve integration and coordination of laboratory patient safety role within healthcare organizations and operations among the following groups: nursing, administration, points of care testing personnel, and providers
Non-conforming Events (NCEs)
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Corrective or Preventive Actions
What is nonconformity?
Whenever a nonconformity is detected, follow the PDCA cycle. This will lead to automatic continual improvement.
It identifies and characterizes problems so investigations can be carried out, root causes identified, and improvement projects initiated, thus eliminating reoccurrence. It is based on principles of quality management, risk management, and patient safety.
Source: https://www.medlabmag.com/article/1287
Source: https://www.medlabmag.com/article/1287
While Considering The Degree Of Risk For A Non-conforming Event
A nonconformity is any occurrence that is not according to rules and/or expectations. Examples are deviation of critical environmental or equipment parameters, accidents, wrongly packed samples, stock outs, etc.
The Laboratory Must Learn From Every Nonconformity.
Non-Conforming Event Management
Implement the best solution ACT Identify your problems PLAN Study results CHECK Test potential solution DO
Risk Impact Business Considerations Serious ham 1 patient or employee Serious Financial loss Moderate harm 5-10 patients or employees Moderate Financial loss Minimal harm 11-30 patients or employees Low Financial loss No harm 31-100 patients or employees No Financial loss Harm near miss 100+ patients or employees Near miss for Financial loss
Event Priority Categories
Improvement
Overall Quality of Services
How to use non-conforming event management program?
Report a nonconformance
Investigate the cause of the nonconformance
Determine if any action is needed and, if so, perform necessary action
Track and trend all nonconformances
Identify opportunities to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of work processes
Identify opportunities to reduce or eliminate risks and improve patient safety
Non-conforming Events (Nces)
Pre-pre-analytical Legal compliance Pre-analytical IT/IS Analytical Total Testing Process Post-analytical Employee Concern Post-post-analytical Client Complaint Safety Recall Billing Administrative Proficiency Testing Inspection Finding
Pre-pre-analytical Analytical Client Error-Ordering Calibration Issue Client Error-Specimen Contamination Contamination-Client SOP Deviation Specimen Receipt Delay Expired Reagent/Material Demographic Error - Client Instrument Downtime Mislabeled Specimen(s) - Client Barcode Issue Switched Specimens - Client Lot Number Issue Unlabeled Specimen(s) - Client Inventory Shortage Improper Specimen Collection Rerun - Equipment Failure Interface Error Rerun – Inconsistent Results Multiple Orders on Specimen Rerun – QC Failure No Manifest Received Misplaced /Misrouted Specimen No Shipment Received Lost Specimen - Redraw No Specimen Received Lost Specimen - Irreplaceable Recall Collection Container Technology/Computer Issue
Source: Jennifer Dawson; Electronic Non-Conforming Event Management, Medical Lab Management Magazine, May 2016 – Vol 5, No. 4 Page 16
Source: Jennifer Dawson; Electronic Non-Conforming Event Management, Medical Lab Management Magazine, May 2016 – Vol 5, No. 4 Page 16
Create a blame-free environment that focuses on processes and NOT PEOPLE
Use coaching and mentoring to obtain compliance with processes.
Focus on staff education and training to recognize and report potential non-conforming events
Management of Nonconforming Laboratory Events; Proposed Guideline (GP32-P), published by the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI, formerly NCCLS)
Useful guidelines to handle the problems that compromise the quality of laboratory services
An action taken to eliminate the initiating cause of a detected nonconformity. Corrective action is designed to eliminate the reoccurrence of a nonconformity Preventive action is designed to eliminate the occurrence.
Section 5 Creating a Culture to Discover and Report Nonconforming Events, discusses the importance of creating the right environment for effective nonconformance management. Section 12 Management Review and Referral to Process Improvement for Long-term Corrective Action, explains when a root cause analysis (RCA) should be performed.
It has 2 important sections
Non-conformity Categories
Non-conformity Subcategories Examples
What is corrective and preventative action?
Root Cause Analysis (RCA)
Don’t forget to include all personnel involved in the error for the analysis rather than speculate
Root cause analysis (RCA) is a structured study that determines the underlying cause(s) of adverse or nonconforming events (NCEs). RCA focuses on systems, processes, and common causes that were involved in the adverse event. It then determines ways to prevent recurrence by identifying potential improvements in systems and processes that should decrease the likelihood of repeating the event. The Goals of Performing a Root Cause Analysis
Impartial Methodical Information-driven
What happened Why it happened What to do to prevent it from happening again Determine 3 things
Gather and Manage data
Problem Statement
Analyse Cause and Effect
Solutions
Final Report
Quality management system SOPs define responsibilities and authorities for the root cause investigation process. Root cause investigation is a problem solving activity focused on the system, not the personnel. Root cause investigation leads to corrective action, which is intended to prevent recurrence of nonconformance. Preventive action is a proactive process intended to prevent occurrence of nonconformance.
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Methods of Root Cause Analysis (RCA)
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The ‘5 Whys’ is the simplest method for structured root cause analysis. It is a question asking method used to explore the cause/effect relationships underlying the problem. The investigator keeps asking the question ‘Why?’ until meaningful conclusions are reached. It is generally suggested that a minimum of five questions need to be asked, although sometimes additional questions are required or useful, as it is important to ensure that the questions continue to be asked until the real cause is identified rather than a partial conclusion.
(1) Why was the TOT too long? The controls were expired and testing had to be deplayed . (2) Why were there no non-expired controls? The order didn’t get shipped in time. (3) Why didn’t it get shipped in time? The order wasn’t place on time. (4) Why wasn’t the order placed on time? The person who normally does the ordering was out sick and there was no one designated as the backup.
Root cause achieved with 4 WHY’S
Reference: Williams et al. BUMC PROCEEDINGS 2001;14:154-157
Why? Why? Why? Why? Why?
ROOT cause!
Event: The turn-around time for a test was too long
5 why?
Methods of Root Cause Analysis (RCA)
Fishbone Diagram
Equipment Process People Materials Environment Management EFFECT Secondary Cause Primary Cause
The system failure is described in a box to the right of the diagram.
Add Bones: Categories (4 M’s) Man Power (Personnel) Machines (Equipment) Materials (Reagents and Supplies) Methods Primary Causes Secondary C auses
They are most useful when the ‘5 whys’ is too basic, for example, where a complex issue needs to be considered in bite size pieces or where there is a lot of data that needs to be trended. In the diagram, the various causes are grouped into categories (such as equipment, materials or processes) and the arrows in the image indicate how the causes cascade or flow toward the non-conformity. When to use a fishbone diagram: When identifying possible causes for a problem When a team’s thinking tends to fall into ruts
Sample Integrity Lipemia Hemolysis Interfering subtances Clotting Incorrect tube
Sample Presentation Bubbles Inadequate volume
1 . Samples
2 . Operator
4 . Laboratory Environment
3. Reagents
5 . Measuring System
Identify Potential Hazards
Incorrect Test Result
Reagent Degradation Shipping Storage Used past expiration Preparation
Quality Control Material Degradation Shipping Storage Used past expiration Preparation
Operator Capacity Training Competency
Operator staffing Short staffing Correct staffing
Calibrator Degradation Shipping Storage Used past expiration Preparation
Instrument Failure Software failure Optics drift Electronic instability
Inadequate instrument Maintenance Dirty optics Contamination Scratches
Atmospheric Environment Dust Temperature Humidty
Utility Environment Electrical Water quality Pressure
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Methods of Root Cause Analysis (RCA)
Failure Mode Effects Analysis
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Failure mode and effect analyses (FMEA) on all the processes of the laboratory are one of the most important activities for continual improvement. FMEA is a process analysis that helps you to get insight in potential sources of nonconformities, the probability that they happen and the severity of the consequences if they happen, and it offers you the opportunity to prevent them.
SEVERITY (S) OCCURRENCE (O) DETECTION (D) RATING Hazardous without warning Very high failure is almost inevitable Absolute uncertainty 10 Hazardous with warning Very high failure is almost inevitable Very remote 9 Very high High repeated failures Remote 8 High High repeated failures Very low 7 Moderate Moderate occasional failures Low 6 Low Moderate occasional failures Moderate 5 Very low Moderate occasional failures Moderately high 4 Minor Low relatively few failures High 3 Very minor Low relatively few failures Very high 2 None Remote failure is unlikely Almost certain 1
Failure Severity Probability Control Risk Wrong client selected at data entry 8 3 7 168 Client does not receive results, but are on web view 4 4 7 112
Failure Mode and Effect Analysis (FMEA)
Table of Ranking – Severity, Occurrence, Detection
Take Action and Monitor Results
Failure Mode and Effect Analysis (FMEA)
Step 1 : Identify a Failure Mode
Step 5: Calculate a Risk Priority (RPN) = S × O × D
Step 2: Assign a Severity Rating (S)
Step 4: Assign a Detection Rating (D)
Step 3: Assign an Occurrence Rating (O)