In the context of healthcare, what does the term "near miss" refer to?

In healthcare, the term "near miss" is used to describe an event that could have resulted in harm to a patient but ultimately did not. This concept is crucial for understanding patient safety and improving healthcare practices. Near misses highlight potential hazards and weaknesses in processes that, if not identified and addressed, could lead to actual harm in the future.

For instance, if a medication dose was incorrectly calculated, but the mistake was caught before administration, this would be classified as a near miss. Identifying and analyzing these near misses allows healthcare organizations to implement corrective measures, training, and system changes to prevent similar incidents from occurring, thereby enhancing overall safety.

By recognizing near misses, healthcare providers can create a culture of safety where learning from these incidents is encouraged, ultimately improving patient outcomes and reducing risk.