Table 2 Definition of potential preventability, potential severity and actual clinical impact

Potential preventability [14]

Definitely preventable

NS^a

Probably preventable

NS^a

Probably not preventable

NS^a

Definitely not preventable

NS^a

Potential severity [15]

Minor

No injury, nor increased length of stay nor increased level of care.

Moderate

Increased length of stay or increased level of care for 1 or 2 patients.

Major

Permanent lessening of bodily functioning, disfigurement, surgical intervention required, increased length of stay for 3 or more patients, increased level of care for 3 or more patients.

Catastrophic

Death or major permanent loss of function, suicide, rape, hemolytic transfusion reaction. Surgery/procedure on the wrong patient or wrong body part, infant abduction or infant discharge to the wrong family.

Actual clinical impact [16, 17]

Preventable ADE^b

Injuries resulting from an error at any stage throughout the medication process.

Near misses

Errors detected and intercepted before any harm is done.