Utilization of failure mode effects analysis in trauma patient registration

Our goal was to identify strategies that would reduce risks and improve patient safety during registration of trauma patients and subsequent electronic data linkage. Recently, the health care industry and the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations have supported failure mode effects analysis (FMEA) as a tool for proactively reducing risk to patients.

We utilized FEMA for a comprehensive evaluation of our trauma patient registration process for system weaknesses.

We found several areas of our processes that placed patients at risk. On the basis of our findings, we implemented changes that included education of staff, role clarification, task reallocation, and established a list of personnel authorized to request the electronic data linkage process. Further recommendations were made for information system changes, which are under review.

FMEA helped us to systematically identify and prioritize risks to patient safety. Our findings directed changes, which, in turn, reduced potential errors. We recommend this method of evaluation to other health care personnel interested in improving patient safety.