Frequently Asked Questions
#15. What do you see as the relationship between peer review and root cause analysis?
We identify two distinct types of relationship between these functions:
The more obvious is the relatively traditional one. If a root cause analysis suggests a problem in competence or performance of a provider, a referral should be made for an inquiry in accordance with the facility's peer review policy. It is not the role of a traditional root cause analysis team to make decisions in the realm of peer review, only to suggest that such a review should be initiated.
The second relationship is newer, and quite different. Root cause analysis is in essence a standardized problem-solving methodolgy, and as such may be applied to a variety of problems and problem types, as we have indicated elsewhere. A number of our clients have found that the root cause analysis methodology provides an excellent standardized process for conducting and reporting both peer review and morbidity & mortality review. When used in such a fashion, the root cause analyses are usually not as intensive and in-depth as the root cause analysis of a sentinel event; the resultant peer reviews and/or morbidity & mortality reviews still offer the advantages of process standardization, greater likelihood of improvement-oriented conclusions, more complete analyses and "buy-in" from participants. Maintenance of such analysis outcomes in database format within a department and/or throughout a facility provides advantages of data aggregation, quality monitoring, and systemic quality improvement in a cost-effective manner.

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