A Model-Based Approach to Prioritizing Medical Safety Practices

Abstract

This report shows how a model of skilled human performance can be used to evaluate safety practices aimed at reducing medical errors when randomized trials evidence regarding the effectiveness of such practices is not available. In the modeling approach, safety practices are described by a collection of variables, and the impact of these practices is estimated in terms of the effect of changes in these variables on the behavior of the model. The usefulness of this approach depends on having a model that is validated in terms of the available data. The report describes evidence for the validity of the human performance model and illustrates the use of the model to prioritize safety practices.