Background: Failure Mode Effects Analysis (FMEA) is an analytical method for risk assessment that seeks to identify and rank as far as possible the potential risks within the scope of risk assessment, as well as the causes and effects associated with it. Considering the classification of the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) as one of the high-risk wards, this ward of Ziaee Hospital- Ardakan is studied to identify, prioritize and evaluate errors, and present and implement proposed measures to reduce or eliminate possible errors.
Methods: This is a quasi-experimental study of interventional type. The present study is a quantitative, qualitative combination of inductive and applied method and evaluates and analyzes the states and effects of the error using FMEA method in the form of a before-after study. Studies of this research were carried out during the period of January 26 to December, 2016 on the processes of the intensive care unit of Ziaee Hospital in Ardakan. The information collection is based on FMEA standard worksheet and formation of FMEA team.
Results: Re-evaluate the risk priority number (RPN) after performing corrective measures showed that the priority score of all common errors was decreased in the ward. The results of this study indicated that out of 26 identified clinical errors, 10 first error modes were selected for further study. Selected error modes accounted for the highest error rate. This was related to the non-usage of routine disinfectants in hand washing with a score of 504, and the lowest score was related to the failure of the nurse to identify alarm type with a score of 240.
Conclusion: We can reduce as much as possible the severity of injuries by re-measuring the priority score and making effective control and corrective measures by identifying the errors and methods of reducing these errors in the intended ward or in any other ward in the organization.