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Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2018 Jun 1;178(6):812-819.
doi: 10.1001/jamainternmed.2018.0607.

Effect of Systematic Physician Cross-checking on Reducing Adverse Events in the Emergency Department: The CHARMED Cluster Randomized Trial

Yonathan Freund  1   2 , Hélène Goulet  2 , Judith Leblanc  3 , Jérôme Bokobza  4 , Patrick Ray  1   5 , Maxime Maignan  6 , Sabine Guinemer  7 , Jennifer Truchot  8 , Anne-Laure Féral-Pierssens  9 , Youri Yordanov  1   10 , Anne-Laure Philippon  2 , Edwin Rouff  5 , Ben Bloom  11 , Marine Cachanado  3 , Alexandra Rousseau  3 , Tabassome Simon  1   3 , Bruno Riou  1   2
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

Effect of Systematic Physician Cross-checking on Reducing Adverse Events in the Emergency Department: The CHARMED Cluster Randomized Trial

Yonathan Freund et al. JAMA Intern Med. .

Abstract

Importance: Emergency departments (ED) are environments that are at high risk for medical errors. Previous studies suggested that the proportion of medical errors may decrease when more than 1 physician is involved.

Objective: To reduce the proportion of medical errors by implementing systematic cross-checking between emergency physicians.

Design, setting, and participants: This cluster randomized crossover trial includes a random sample of 14 adult patients (age ≥18 years) per day during two 10-day period in 6 EDs (n = 1680 patients) in France.

Interventions: Systematic cross-checking between emergency physicians, 3 times a day, which included a brief presentation of one physician's case to another, followed by the second physician's feedback to the first.

Main outcomes and measures: Medical error in the ED, defined as an adverse event (either a near miss or a serious adverse event). The primary end point was identified using a 2-level error detection surveillance system, blinded to the strategy allocation.

Results: Among the 1680 included patients (mean [SD] age, 57.5 [21.7] years), 144 (8.6%) had an adverse event. There were 54 adverse events among 840 patients (6.4%) in the cross-check group compared with 90 adverse events among 840 patients (10.7%) in the standard care group (relative risk reduction [RRR], 40% [95% CI, 12% to 59%]; absolute risk reduction [ARR], 4.3%; number needed to treat [NNT], 24). There was also a significant reduction rate of near misses (RRR, 47% [95% CI, 15% to 67%]; ARR, 2.7%; NNT, 37) but not of the rate of preventable serious adverse events (RRR, 29% [95% CI, -18% to 57%]; ARR, 1.2%; NNT, 83).

Conclusions and relevance: The implementation of systematic cross-checking between emergency physicians was associated with a significant reduction in adverse events, mainly driven by a reduction in near misses.

Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02356926.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of Interest Disclosures: None reported.

Figures

Figure.
Figure.. Flowchart of Total Adverse Events
ED indicates emergency department.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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