Application of a trigger tool in near real time to inform quality improvement activities: a prospective study in a general medicine ward.
This prospective error investigation study combined a trigger approach to identify possible adverse events with medical record review and structured interviews to determine underlying causes for adverse events. Investigators found that a myriad of factors contribute to adverse events, and multiple distinct interventions would be needed to prevent the detected events. The authors advocate for a framework to classify underlying causes together when they can be addressed by the same intervention.