Error management:aviation and medicine

[OverRun]

A colleague sent me this paper which is fascinating reading.

Summary points: In aviation, accidents are usually highly visible, and as a result aviation has developed standardised methods of investigating, documenting, and disseminating errors and their lessons. Although operating theatres are not cockpits, medicine could learn from aviation. Observation of flights in operation has identified failures of compliance, communication, procedures, proficiency, and decision making in contributing to errors. Surveys in operating theatres have confirmed that pilots and doctors have common interpersonal problem areas and similarities in professional culture. Accepting the inevitability of error and the importance of reliable data on error and its management will allow systematic efforts to reduce the frequency and severity of adverse events.

BMJ 2000;320:781-785 (18 March 2006) On error management: lessons from aviation. Robert L Helmreich

Just in case you're not a subscriber to the British Medical Journal, click here (http://www.geocities.com/profemery/Error_paper.pdf)

[Genghis the Engineer]

An interesting paper. This process of learning from best practice in other disciplines is called "Benchmarking" and is one of the "in things" to bo doing these days - one of the healthier fashions I'd venture.

I've a report on my desk at the moment by the (UK) Royal Academy of Engineering, entitled "Ethics and the Engineer: Embedding ethics in the engineering community", one of the papers in there on ethical practice is by an Anthony Giddings, from the Royal College of Surgeons of England.


There's perhaps a particular relationship between medics and aeronautics that should be fostered. We both rely upon very high levels of professional training and integrity, as well often on rapid decision making - or people die. Okay, the mechanics are different, but a lot of the overall issues get quite similar the closer you look at them.

G

[Hawk]

Copyied across to Medical and Health Forum to add to further discussion.