Example of Health Care FMEA

Health care organizations using failure mode and effect analysis (FMEA), can identify and prevent many hospital accidents where patients are concerned. FMEA requires staff to follow procedures in identifying issues and preparing plans to prevent them.

Definition

• FMEA is a method of identifying and preventing problems with products and processes before they occur. It is used to prevent tragedy, make health systems more robust and fault-tolerant.

History

• Hospital medicine had not made accident prevention a high priority in the past. They were not proactive in preventing accidents and making changes, they just reacted to the event and made a change. By enacting FMEA (developed by the U.S. military in 1949), fewer accidents occur, there are more safety policies for medical gas usage, fewer bed entrapments and fewer medical power failures.

Prevention/Solution

• The FMEA process seeks to accomplish several things in health care. First, define the topic which must be addressed, then assemble a group of multidisciplinary staff to define and outline a plan to deal with the topic. Another step is to graphically define the topic and process through flow diagrams before conducting an analysis of the situation. Identifying possible hazards with their failure modes and causes is another important step. Finally, the team should identify actions and outcomes for the topic. This includes establishing a point-person for the topic.

Outcomes

• Using FMEA correctly can drastically reduce the risk of preventable medical errors, thereby ensuring patient safety. Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) members are required to conduct at least one FMEA annually.