Realistic expectation of event numbers

The goal of error management should be to increase error detection; however, increased error detection will, in turn, increase the reporting rate. This new rate will plateau and stabilize over time.

Increased volume of reports can pose significant logistical and time problems for an organization. It may also be assumed that a greater number of reported events mean more errors are occurring. The truth is that errors were occurring anyway; they were simply not being reported.

Although the number of events should increase significantly, the overall risk level of all events reported will decrease over time. This decreased risk level occurs because those events having the greatest risk are targeted through the MERS-TM process and appropriate process improvements have been taken in response to the information.

Because events can never be eliminated from a system, reduction of event reports should never be a goal of event management. Although process improvements will certainly reduce some types of errors, with system changes and innovations such as new instruments, new types of events will inevitably appear.

Expectations must change as both staff and management learn that increased error detection numbers are desirable.