Adverse Events Prevented Calculator

The Adverse Events (AEs) Prevented Calculator allows one to track the change in rate of any one type of adverse event over time and, when appropriate additional data are added, the consequent change in unnecessary deaths ("lives saved"), real and additional potential cost savings ("dark green dollar" savings and "light green dollar" savings, respectively), and the return on investment of quality improvement work targeting those adverse events.

This IHI Innovation Series white paper provides comprehensive information on the development and methodology of the IHI Global Trigger Tool, with step-by-step instructions for using this easy-to-use method to accurately identify adverse events (harm) and measure the rate of adverse events over time.

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Essential Articles about Error Rates

Jim Conway, Senior Vice President at IHI, asked a group of safety experts for a short list of the essential articles about error rates.  Here is the list they came up with:

Brennan TA, Leape LL, Laird NM, et al. Incidence of adverse events and negligence in hospitalized patients: Results of the Harvard Medical Practice Study I. New England Journal of Medicine. 1991;324(6):370-377.

Leape LL, Brennan TA, Laird NM, et al. The nature of adverse events in hospitalized patients. Results of the Harvard Medical Practice Study II. New England Journal of Medicine. 1991;324(6):377-384.

Bates DW, Cullen DJ, Laird NM, et al. Incidence of adverse drug events and potential adverse drug events. Implications for prevention. ADE Prevention Study Group. Journal of the American Medical Association. 1995;274(1):29-34.

World Alliance for Patient Safety Forward Programme 2005. (Page 2 has a great yet simple table showing worldwide results.)

The Canadian Adverse Events Study: The incidence of adverse events among hospital patients in Canada. (Page 1684 has a very detailed table of other studies.)