Mandatory reporting legislation in Canada: improving systems for patient safety?

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Policy
• Patient Safety Research
• Health Systems Governance

Background:

• Patient safety is a complex systems issue requiring robust governance.
• Mandatory reporting legislation is a key policy tool in healthcare.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the influence of mandatory reporting legislation on patient safety outcomes in Canadian hospitals.
• To assess if current legislation aligns with a systems governance approach to patient safety.

Main Methods:

• Scoping review of peer-reviewed literature.
• Case study analysis of provincial and territorial legislation in Canada.
• Utilized a conceptual model for systems governance in patient safety.

Main Results:

• Canadian mandatory reporting legislation is largely information-gathering, not focused on response or prevention of safety incidents.
• Limited evidence was found demonstrating a direct impact of this legislation on patient safety outcomes.
• Legislation's design may not fully support a comprehensive systems approach to patient safety.

Conclusions:

• Mandatory reporting legislation requires enhancement to effectively improve patient safety outcomes.
• Strengthening learning systems, accountability, and patient safety culture are crucial for legislative effectiveness.
• Legislative frameworks can be optimized to support broader system improvements in patient safety.