Incident review management: a systemic approach to performance improvements

A Model for Incident Review Committees in Behavioral Health Settings

Despite the fact that incident review committees have been a key component of quality improvement in behavioral health settings for decades, specific models of how these committees are structured and operate are not well described. We present a model for an incident review committee that has been implemented in 2 large, academic acute care psychiatric hospitals. We believe the model not only permitted us to efficiently and effectively review untoward incidents, but that it also provided an approach to calibrating standards of care for the institution, engaging physicians in an interdisciplinary effort, promulgating a culture of quality review and improvement throughout the organization, promoting continuity and sustainability of the incident review process, and, most importantly, driving beneficial change in clinical practice. Demonstration of the effectiveness of this model requires formal investigation.

Transfer of facility clients to inpatient psychiatry: eight criteria to consider

The transfer of residential clients with mental retardation to inpatient psychiatric care units (IPUs) presents several areas in which clinical and administrative incidents can occur. Incident review management can be applied as an effective administrative tool to improve the transfer of such clients by considering the needs of clients in the context of their caregivers and the goals of the IPU. This article introduces eight criteria to facilitate and evaluate the transfer of such clients and help reduce the rate of incidents.

Inpatient psychiatry incident review management: Part I. Special issues

Incident review (IR) is a process for achieving a better understanding of problems related to the health and safety of clients and the integrity of healthcare facilities. The purpose of IR is to identify and document adverse incidents through fact-finding. Incidents may vary in both type and levels of seriousness. Through careful documentation, investigation, and committee review, patterns of healthcare delivery can be discerned. The goal of IR is the development of systemic performance improvements in healthcare delivery, which may serve to anticipate and deter the recurrence of similar incidents. IR ensures that the quality and performance of healthcare delivery in the facility continue to be improved by both administrative and clinical staff members. This article examines IR in the context of the inpatient psychiatry unit.

Challenges to effective incident review management: administrative and clinical factors

Incident review (IR) is a process for achieving a better understanding of problems related to the health and safety of clients and the integrity of healthcare facilities. The IR process ensures that the quality and the performance of care in a facility continue to be maintained and improved over time. Because of the practical realities of administrative and clinical care issues, the process of implementing IR and related interventions is often challenging. This paper examines the IR process and the barriers that affect and impede it.