Adverse events in health and safety management in healthcare: meaning and management tools

Highlights. It is necessary to manage adverse events in order to maintain health and safety of patients and medical workers in the process of healthcare. One of the tools that can improve the system of managing such events is the Poka-Yoke technique.Aim. To theoretically justify and analyze the possibility of using lean manufacturing tools in the management of adverse events to ensure the quality and safety of healthcare.Methods. The analysis of domestic and foreign literature, regulatory and legal documentation for the period from 2015 to 2021 was carried out. The following keywords were used as search terms: “adverse events”, “medical error”, “risk management in healthcare organization”, “Poka-Yoke technology”, “adverse events management system”. The Russian Science Citation Index database, “Garant” reference system and Google Scholar search engine were used to find full text publications. The analysis of public reports of government officials on the issues of improving the safety of healthcare was carried out. The methods of system and logical analysis were used for the analysis. The article presents the experience of developing an adverse events management system at the Federal State Budgetary Institution “Research Institute for Complex Issues of Cardiovascular Diseases” (Kemerovo, Russia).Results. The analysis revealed a variety of approaches to management of adverse events. The authors believe that the “Poka-yoke” method, described in the set of national standards  and  technical  specifications maintained  by  the  Russian  Federation “GOST R 56407-2015 Lean manufacturing. Basic methods and tools”, can be implemented in the process of managing adverse events. The main advantage of Poka-yoke method is the fact that it is prevention-based; thus, it is possible to introduce the concept of zero defects in healthcare process. The experience of the Federal State Budgetary Institution “Research Institute for Complex Issues of Cardiovascular Diseases” confirms the expediency of using this technique for the development of the adverse events management system.Conclusion. Implementation of the Poka-Yoke technique leads to the improvement in the adverse events management system.