Match the following patient safety concepts and error classifications to their most accurate definitions or examples.
- Active errorAn immediate failure by a frontline clinician, such as administering a medication to the wrong patient.
- Latent errorA systemic vulnerability built into the healthcare infrastructure, such as understaffing or poorly designed equipment.
- Forcing functionA system design feature that makes it impossible to perform a hazardous action, such as an incompatible IV tubing connection.
- Administrative controlA rule, procedure, or policy intended to reduce risk but heavily reliant on human compliance, such as a mandatory training module.
Answer
Active error matches with an immediate failure by a frontline clinician. Latent error matches with a systemic vulnerability. Forcing function matches with a design feature making a hazardous action impossible. Administrative control matches with a policy reliant on human compliance.
In patient safety and Root Cause Analysis, it is essential to distinguish between the sharp end (active errors by individuals) and the blunt end (latent systemic errors). When designing corrective actions, the hierarchy of controls prioritizes forcing functions (strongest) over administrative controls (weakest).
Step-by-Step Solution
Key Concept
Classification of errors (latent vs. active) and hierarchy of intervention effectiveness.