Risk Mining in Hospital Information Systems

To err is human. How can we avoid near misses and achieve medical safety? From this perspective, we analyzed the nurses\´ incident data by data mining with the "concept of quality control" that near misses are produced by the system rather than individuals. Nurses\´ incident data were collected during the 18 months at the emergency room. Significant rules (If-then rules) indicated that the medication errors are likely to occur when mental concentration is disrupted by interruption of work, etc. Based on the results of the analysis, the nurses\´ medication check system was improved. During the last 6 months, the check system was put into effect. The frequency of the medication errors decreased to about one-twenties or less. It was considered that the data mining analysis contributes the decision support on the improvement of incidents.