Risk Management and Clinical Computing Safety

Details

Title

Risk Management and Clinical Computing Safety

Type

Stage One

Module code

HBI107

Requirement

Compulsory

Module objective

By the end of this module the Clinical Scientist in HSST will be able to analyse and synthesise their understanding of the risk and safety processes for managing clinical computing systems. The Clinical Scientist in HSST will understand how to assess and minimise the risks associated with the use of clinical computing systems and how to report, analyse and learn from clinical computing incidents to minimise the risk of recurrences.

The Clinical Scientist in HSST will also be expected to consistently demonstrate the attitudes and behaviours necessary for the role of a CCS, promoting a culture where risk management and system safety are used to assured Medical Physics and Clinical Engineering services.

Knowledge and understanding

By the end of this module the Clinical Scientist in HSST will be able to analyse, synthesise, critically evaluate and apply their expert knowledge, including:

• Risk management terminology.
• Behavioural factors influencing risk, including ergonomics and human usability of medical equipment, the environment in which it is used and the manner in which it is operated.
• How to undertake formal assessments of clinical computing systems-related risks.
• Appropriate investigation and reporting of incidents involving clinical computing systems.
• Analysis of incidents involving clinical computing systems to identify the causes and the development and evaluation of processes to minimise the risk of recurrence.
• Informing patients and carers of incidents associated with their care and the processes to be followed.
• The potential impact of clinical computing systems incidents on patients, their relatives and carers.
• How to advise on associated policies and procedures designed to minimise risks and help ensure patient safety, including how to demonstrate compliance with regulations in a cost-effective and
• proportionate manner.

Technical and clinical skills

By the end of this module the Clinical Scientist in HSST will demonstrate a critical understanding of current risk management safety practice and research evidence regarding clinical computing and its application to help enhance patient safety and minimise risks, and will:

• Identify the need for and perform risk assessments with reference to specific clinical computing systems, ensuring the findings are disseminated and any actions arising are completed.
• Write and, where required, revise and improve local rules for safe clinical computing practice, and develop and advise on monitoring processes to ensure compliance with the local rules.
• Work with clinical colleagues, patients and MDTs to advise on the appropriate and proportionate action required to be taken to minimise risk, including advising on procedures to be taken with regard to the upgrade, repair, or replacement.
• Investigate incidents involving clinical computing systems, working with clinical staff, patients and appropriate MDTs to identify the causes.
• Use the organisation’s incident reporting system and the MHRA reporting system, and work with appropriate multidisciplinary colleagues to ensure clear factual reporting of incidents, documentation of the causes and of preventative measures and action taken to minimise risk and recurrence.
• Learn from incidents reported (DATIX and MHRA) and advise, suggest and develop processes to prevent recurrence, reporting to the appropriate governance and management groups of the healthcare organisation, working with appropriate groups to monitor the impact of the processes in reducing and managing risks.
• Work with the organisation’s risk management team to provide appropriate feedback to those who report clinical computing systems-related risks.
• Interpret safety alerts associated with clinical computing systems and their use, and develop and suggest appropriate actions in  response to the safety  alerts.

By the end of this module the Clinical Scientist in HSST will be expected to evaluate their own response to both normal and complex situations, consistently demonstrating the professional attributes and insights necessary for the role of a CCS and will:

• Promote and lead a just culture for incident reporting, investigation and management.
• Act in a professional and sensitive manner in dealing with patient and staff concerns around medical equipment incidents.