Medical Errors Zheng Yan Advised by: Dr. Dan France, Ph.D, MPH

Background Recent studies show that emergency departments around the country generate very high rates of adverse events and patient complaints.

Problem High level of stress, fatigue and workload in physicians contribute to the large rates of error and patient complaints each year Interruptions, task load and resource constraints are factors that influence the level of stress, fatigue and workload in physicians

Objective The main goal of the study is the identification of inefficiencies in the workflow that increase the physician’s workload, stress and fatigue By evaluating the factors that contribute to the stress, workload and fatigue of residents staffing the VUMC’s adult emergency department.

Timeline January: Time-motion observations of individual ED physicinans; Merging of observational data with ED “system” data from electronic Whiteboard. February - April : Analyze, review results and write report

Preliminary Work Research of current literature on medical errors Project schedule and related activities discussed with advisor Data of adult ED physicians collected and compiled

Future Work Time motion observations of nurses Combining of electronic White board data and nurse observation data Analysis of combined data for physicians and nurses Creation of strategies for improvement of human communication and medical computer systems to reduce level of medical errors