Objective: To assess the impact of service improvements implemented because of latent threats (LTs) detected during in situ simulation.
Design: Retrospective review from April 2008 to April 2015.
Setting: Paediatric Intensive Care Unit in a specialist tertiary hospital.
Intervention: Service improvements from LTs detection during in situ simulation. Action plans from patient safety incidents (PSIs).
Main outcome measures: The quantity, category, and subsequent service improvements for LTs. The quantity, category, and subsequent action plans for PSIs. Similarities between PSIs and LTs before and after service improvements.
Results: 201 Simulated inter-professional team training courses with 1,144 inter-professional participants. 44 LTs were identified (1 LT per 4.6 courses). Incident severity varied: 18 (41%) with the potential to cause harm, 20 (46%) that would have caused minimal harm, and 6 (13%) that would have caused significant temporary harm. Category analysis revealed the majority of LTs were resources (36%) and education and training (27%). The remainder consisted of equipment (11%), organizational and strategic (7%), work and environment (7%), medication (7%), and systems and protocols (5%). 43 service improvements were developed: 24 (55%) resources/equipment; 9 (21%) educational; 6 (14%) organizational changes; 2 (5%) staff communications; and 2 (5%) guidelines. Four (9%) service improvements were adopted trust wide. 32 (73%) LTs did not recur after service improvements. 24 (1%) of 1,946 PSIs were similar to LTs: 7 resource incidents, 7 catastrophic blood loss, 4 hyperkalaemia arrests, 3 emergency buzzer failures, and 3 difficulties contacting staff. 34 LTs (77%) were never recorded as PSIs.
Conclusion: An in situ simulation program can identify important LTs which traditional reporting systems miss. Subsequent improvements in workplace systems and resources can improve efficiency and remove error traps.
Keywords: education; in situ characterization; incident reporting and analysis; patient safety; quality improvement; simulation.