Identification and assessment of medical errors in the triage area of an educational hospital using the SHERPA technique in Iran

Abstract

Accidents caused by human error are prominent in the medical field. The present study identified medical errors in the emergency triage area by assessing the tasks of all healthcare workers employed in the triage area of an educational hospital in Tehran, Iran in 2014. Data were collected using the systematic human error reduction and prediction approach (SHERPA). The tasks and sub-tasks were determined and analyzed using hierarchical analysis and the errors were extracted. A total of 199 human errors were identified in the different tasks. The rate of error for action was 46.8%, checking was 25.6%, retrieval was 8.5%, communication was 12.1% and selection was 7%. Rate of unacceptable and unfavorable risks were 21.1% and 38.6%, respectively. SHERPA was shown to be an appropriate technique for detecting medical errors. The establishment of control programs should be a high priority in the management and implementation of health facilities in triage areas.

Keywords:

• human error
• medical error
• hierarchical task analysis
• SHERPA
• Iran
• triage area

Acknowledgements

The present study was a research project approved by the Health Research Center of Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences. We would like to thank our colleagues for their cooperation and effort, particularly the hospital president, managing director, nursing triage unit, nursing acute care unit, especially Mrs Shekarchi, and the physicians that played important roles in carrying out this research. Approval to conduct the study was obtained from the Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences Ethics Committee (code: MHRC 506; date: December 2, 2014). The participants were assured of their privacy and that of the data gathered. Data were analyzed collectively and not individually and all data were confidential.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Funding

This work was supported in part by the Research and Technology Deputy of Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences [research project MHRC 506].