Adverse events in acute hospitals: Methodological aspects and results of a record review in patients with an unplanned transfer to a higher level of care

Abstract

The objectives of this study were to determine the incidence and preventability of adverse events requiring an unplanned higher level of care - defined as an unplanned transfer to the intensive care unit or an in-hospital medical emergency team intervention - and to assess the type and the level of harm of each adverse event. A three-stage retrospective review process of screening, record review and consensus judgment was performed in six Belgian acute hospitals.