The neonatal preventable harm index: a high reliability tool

The aim of this study is to identify, quantify and disseminate a novel set of safety indicators for monitoring the occurrence of preventable harm in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).

Literature review and experiences in an academic, level IV NICU identified prevalent, preventable safety events: hospital-acquired infections (catheter-associated bloodstream infection, ventilator-associated pneumonia), unscheduled extubations, intravenous infiltrates requiring intervention, first week readmissions, serious adverse drug events and miscellaneous events (unanticipated harm or serious near misses). Negative binominal regression evaluated the event incidence trends.

Of 226 preventable harm events occurring between March 2013 and January 2015, the most common were unscheduled extubations (98; 2/100 ventilator days) and intravenous infiltrates (62; 2.7/100 admissions). No trends were detected (rate ratio: 0.99; confidence limits: 0.96 to 1.01; P=0.38).

The Neonatal Preventable Harm Index represents a novel and transparent means to monitor serious safety events and direct harm prevention strategies in the NICU.