Medical Error Definitions and Management

What is the definition of an error according to the Institute of Medicine and the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality?

A deliberate act to harm someone
The failure of a planned action to be completed as intended or the use of a wrong plan to achieve an aim (correct)
A situation where an intended outcome is achieved
A minor mistake with no consequences

According to James Reason's principles of error management, what is the main goal of effective error management?

To identify and punish individuals who make mistakes
To achieve a one-time fix to the problem
To eliminate human error completely
To aim for continuous reform and improvement (correct)

What is a key characteristic of safety significant errors, according to James Reason's principles of error management?

They can occur at all levels of the system (correct)
They only occur at the lowest levels of the system
They are always minor and have no consequences
They are always intentional

Why is blaming individuals who make mistakes emotionally satisfying, but useless for solving the issues?

Because it shifts the focus away from the system and onto the individual (A) Signup and view all the answers

What is the main difference between blame and accountability in the context of error management?

Blame is about punishing individuals, while accountability is about fixing the system (B) Signup and view all the answers

What is the implication of the statement 'human error is both universal and inevitable'?

That errors are a natural part of the human experience and can be moderated, but not eliminated (A) Signup and view all the answers

What is the tendency to make mistakes or be wrong referred to as?

Fallibility (C) Signup and view all the answers

Why do people make mistakes regardless of their experience, intelligence, motivation, or vigilance?

Because of human fallibility (B) Signup and view all the answers

What is the focus of the person approach in addressing human fallibility?

Focusing on the errors of individuals (D) Signup and view all the answers

What is the main goal of the system approach in addressing human fallibility?

To build defenses to avert or mitigate errors (B) Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for the influence of human and individual characteristics and organizational and job factors on behavior/performance at work?

Human factors (B) Signup and view all the answers

What is a hazard in the workplace?

A condition that increases the potential for an error to occur (A) Signup and view all the answers

How many human performance modes are there in which errors can occur?

3 (B) Signup and view all the answers

What is an example of a skill-based performance mode?

Driving a car (A) Signup and view all the answers

What is the main characteristic of skill-based performance mode?

It involves acting from memory as if on auto-pilot (A) Signup and view all the answers

What is the ultimate goal of applying human factors in the design of systems and tasks?

All of the above (D) Signup and view all the answers

What is a key factor that influences human performance in an organization?

All of the above (D) Signup and view all the answers

What is the result of competing priorities or ill-defined expectations and work practices in an organization?

Increased error rates (B) Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of simplifying and standardizing organizational processes?

To reduce errors and improve performance (C) Signup and view all the answers

What type of error occurs when an individual performs a routine, familiar task?

Slip (A) Signup and view all the answers

What is the result of inexperience combined with a lack of supervision?

Increased error risk (B) Signup and view all the answers

What should leaders, peers, and subordinates do to encourage high levels of performance from individuals?

Reinforce and encourage individuals (A) Signup and view all the answers

What is the characteristic of Rule-based Performance Mode?

It involves unfamiliar situations requiring analytical skills and judgment (D) Signup and view all the answers

What is the main difference between Slips and Lapses?

Slips are when someone does something but it is not what is intended, while Lapses are when we simply forget (A) Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary cause of Slips and Lapses?

Inattention (B) Signup and view all the answers

What is the characteristic of Knowledge-based Performance Mode Errors?

They are due to lack of knowledge or missing information (C) Signup and view all the answers

What is the Availability Heuristic?

A tendency to use the first information that comes to mind (C) Signup and view all the answers

What is the Hindsight Bias?

A type of Knowledge-based Performance Mode Error (B) Signup and view all the answers

What is the most important factor in preventing errors?

Being self-aware (B) Signup and view all the answers

What is the main difference between Mistakes and Errors?

Mistakes are errors that occur during somewhat familiar or new activities that require thought, while Errors are errors that occur during routine activities that do not require thought (B) Signup and view all the answers

What is the result of Confirmation Bias?

A tendency to look for evidence that supports an early working hypothesis (B) Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of having contingencies in place?

To minimize the chance for error and cope with problems, interruptions, and distractions (D) Signup and view all the answers