potilastapahtuman

Potilastapahtuma is a Finnish term that translates to "patient event" or "patient incident." It generally refers to any occurrence that involves a patient in a healthcare setting, which deviates from the expected course of treatment or care. This can encompass a wide range of situations.

These events can be broadly categorized into adverse events and near misses. Adverse events are those where harm to the patient occurs as a result of the care provided, not the underlying disease. Examples include medication errors leading to adverse drug reactions, surgical complications, or healthcare-associated infections. Near misses, on the other hand, are events that could have caused harm but did not, either by chance or because of timely intervention.

The primary purpose of identifying and reporting potilastapahtuma is to learn from them and improve patient safety. By analyzing the causes and circumstances surrounding these events, healthcare providers can implement changes in processes, protocols, and training to prevent similar occurrences in the future. This forms a crucial part of a healthcare organization's quality improvement and risk management efforts.

Reporting systems for potilastapahtuma are in place in most Finnish healthcare facilities. These systems encourage healthcare professionals to report incidents without fear of blame, fostering a culture of safety where open communication about errors and near misses is valued. The data collected is then used to identify trends, systemic weaknesses, and areas for improvement in patient care.