Managing risk, clinical error, and quality of care

Clinical risk presents enormous challenges for the health profession and governments. Despite excellent national and regional programs focused on the management of obstetrical conditions and prevention of newborn injury, an environment of clinical error persists; according to Canadian Medical Protective Association data, each year 6% of Canadian obstetricians face a legal challenge, with most cases also involving nurses and hospitals. Principles and lessons learned from risk management developed in high reliability organizations (HROs), such as air traffic controllers and nuclear power plants, can be applied to risk management in perinatal/obstetrical units. In 2002, the Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada will launch an obstetrical risk management program called "Managing Obstetrical Risk Efficiently" (MORE), integrating labour and delivery clinical core content with HRO principles and reflective learning and practice modification tools designed to help all obstetrical caregivers build and maintain confidence and competency, improve patient safety and quality of care, and reduce clinical error and adverse events.