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Table 5 Characteristics of Successful Reporting Systems[9]*

From: Creating European guidelines for Chiropractic Incident Reporting and Learning Systems (CIRLS): relevance and structure

Non-punitive

Reporters are free from fear of retaliation against themselves or punishment of others as a result of reporting.

Confidential

The identities of the patient, reporter, and institution are never revealed.

Independent

The reporting system is independent of any authority with power to punish the reporter or the organization.

Expert analysis

Reports are evaluated by experts who understand the clinical circumstances and are trained to recognize underlying system causes

Timely

Reports are analyzed promptly and recommendations are rapidly disseminated to those who need to know especially when serious hazards are identified.

System-oriented

Recommendations focus on changes in systems, processes, or products, rather than being targeted at individual performance.

Responsive

The agency that receives reports is capable of disseminating recommendations. Participating organizations commit to implementing recommendations whenever possible.

  1. *Reproduced with permission of WHO Press http://www.who.int/about/licensing/en