Improving safety on the front lines: the role of clinical microsystems

Qual Saf Health Care. 2002 Mar;11(1):45-50. doi: 10.1136/qhc.11.1.45.

Abstract

The clinical microsystem puts medical error and harm reduction into the broader context of safety and quality of care by providing a framework to assess and evaluate the structure, process, and outcomes of care. Eight characteristics of clinical microsystems emerged from a qualitative analysis of interviews with representatives from 43 microsystems across North America. These characteristics were used to develop a tool for assessing the function of microsystems. Further research is needed to assess microsystem performance, outcomes, and safety, and how to replicate "best practices" in other settings.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Health Services Research
  • Hospital Administration / standards*
  • Humans
  • Medical Errors / prevention & control*
  • National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine, U.S., Health and Medicine Division
  • North America
  • Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care
  • Patient Care Team
  • Quality Assurance, Health Care / organization & administration*
  • Safety Management / methods
  • Safety Management / organization & administration*
  • Systems Analysis*
  • Systems Integration
  • United States