Advanced Search

Journal Navigation

Journal Home

Subscriptions

Archive

Contact Us

Table of Contents

Click here to sign up for SAGE Journal Email Alerts today!

Sign In to gain access to subscriptions and/or personal tools.
Medical Care Research and Review
This Article
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow References
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Right arrow Citation Map
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in Web of Science
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Add to Saved Citations
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrowRequest Permissions
Right arrow Request Reprints
Right arrow Add to My Marked Citations
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via Web of Science (23)
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Right arrow Citing Articles via Scopus
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Hoff, T.
Right arrow Articles by Flink, E.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Hoff, T.
Right arrow Articles by Flink, E.
Social Bookmarking
Add to CiteULike   Add to Complore   Add to Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us   Add to Digg   Add to Reddit   Add to Technorati   Add to Twitter  
What's this?

A Review of the Literature Examining Linkages between Organizational Factors, Medical Errors, and Patient Safety

Timothy Hoff

University at Albany, State University of New York

Lottie Jameson

University at Albany, State University of New York

Edward Hannan

University at Albany, State University of New York

Ellen Flink

New York State Department of Health

The potential role of organizational factors in enhanced patient safety and medical error prevention is highlighted in the systems approach advocated for by the Institute of Medicine and others. However, little is known about the extent to which these factors have been shown empirically to be associated with these favorable outcomes. The present study conducted an intensive review of the clinical and health services literatures in order to explore this issue. The results of this review support the general conclusion that there is little evidence for asserting the importance of any individual, group, or structural variable in error prevention or enhanced patient safety at the present time. Two major issues bearing on the development of future research in this area involve strengthening the theoretical foundations of organizational research on patient safety and overcoming definitional and observability problems associated with error-focused dependent variables.

Key Words: medical errors • patient safety • organizational factors • research issues

Medical Care Research and Review, Vol. 61, No. 1, 3-37 (2004)
DOI: 10.1177/1077558703257171
Add to CiteULike CiteULike   Add to Complore Complore   Add to Connotea Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us Del.icio.us   Add to Digg Digg   Add to Reddit Reddit   Add to Technorati Technorati   Add to Twitter Twitter    What's this?


This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 Med Care Res RevHome page
M. Duckers, M. Faber, J. Cruijsberg, R. Grol, L. Schoonhoven, and M. Wensing
Safety and Risk Management Interventions in Hospitals: A Systematic Review of the Literature
Med Care Res Rev, December 1, 2009; 66(6_suppl): 90S - 119S.
[Abstract] [PDF]

Home page
 ANN INTERN MEDHome page
M. Linzer, L. B. Manwell, E. S. Williams, J. A. Bobula, R. L. Brown, A. B. Varkey, B. Man, J. E. McMurray, A. Maguire, B. Horner-Ibler, et al.
Working Conditions in Primary Care: Physician Reactions and Care Quality
Ann Intern Med, July 7, 2009; 151(1): 28 - 36.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Med Care Res RevHome page
J. A. Alexander and L. R. Hearld
Review: What Can We Learn From Quality Improvement Research?: A Critical Review of Research Methods
Med Care Res Rev, June 1, 2009; 66(3): 235 - 271.
[Abstract] [PDF]

Home page
 Med Care Res RevHome page
C. W. Hartmann, M. Meterko, A. K. Rosen, Shibei Zhao, P. Shokeen, S. Singer, and D. M. Gaba
Relationship of Hospital Organizational Culture to Patient Safety Climate in the Veterans Health Administration
Med Care Res Rev, June 1, 2009; 66(3): 320 - 338.
[Abstract] [PDF]

Home page
 Qual Saf Health CareHome page
J Braithwaite, W B Runciman, and A F Merry
Towards safer, better healthcare: harnessing the natural properties of complex sociotechnical systems
Qual. Saf. Health Care, February 1, 2009; 18(1): 37 - 41.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Med Care Res RevHome page
L. R. Hearld, J. A. Alexander, I. Fraser, and H. J. Jiang
Review: How Do Hospital Organizational Structure and Processes Affect Quality of Care?: A Critical Review of Research Methods
Med Care Res Rev, June 1, 2008; 65(3): 259 - 299.
[Abstract] [PDF]

Home page
 Br Med BullHome page
K. M. Cresswell, B. Fernando, B. McKinstry, and A. Sheikh
Adverse drug events in the elderly
Br. Med. Bull., September 1, 2007; 83(1): 259 - 274.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Med Care Res RevHome page
B. J. Weiner, J. A. Alexander, L. C. Baker, S. M. Shortell, and M. Becker
Quality Improvement Implementation and Hospital Performance on Patient Safety Indicators
Med Care Res Rev, February 1, 2006; 63(1): 29 - 57.
[Abstract] [PDF]

Home page
 Med Care Res RevHome page
T. A. Nahra, K. L. Reiter, R. A. Hirth, J. E. Shermer, and J. R. C. Wheeler
Cost-Effectiveness of Hospital Pay-for-Performance Incentives
Med Care Res Rev, February 1, 2006; 63(1_suppl): 49S - 72S.
[Abstract] [PDF]

Home page
 PediatricsHome page
G. Randolph, B. Fried, L. Loeding, P. Margolis, and C. Lannon
Organizational Characteristics and Preventive Service Delivery in Private Practices: A Peek Inside the "Black Box" of Private Practices Caring for Children
Pediatrics, June 1, 2005; 115(6): 1704 - 1711.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]