§ 1912 - Definitions - Vermont Statutes

§ 1912. Definitions

As used in this chapter:

(1) "Adverse event" is any untoward incident, therapeutic misadventure, iatrogenic injury, or other undesirable occurrence directly associated with care or services provided by a health care provider or health care facility.

(2) "Causal analysis" means a formal root cause analysis, similar analytic methodologies or any similarly effective but simplified processes that use a systematic approach to identify the basic or causal factors that underlie the occurrence or possible occurrence of a reportable adverse event, adverse event, or near miss.

(3) "Corrective action plan" means a plan to implement strategies intended to eliminate or significantly reduce the risk of a recurrence of an adverse event and to measure the effectiveness of such strategies.

(4) "Hospital" shall have the same meaning as in subdivision 1902(1) of this title.

(5) "Health care provider" shall have the same meaning as in subdivision 9402(8) of this title.

(6) "Intentional unsafe act" shall mean an adverse event or near miss that results from:

(A) a criminal act;

(B) a purposefully unsafe act;

(C) alcohol or substance abuse; or

(D) patient abuse.

(7) "Near miss" means any process variation that did not affect the outcome, but for which a recurrence carries a significant chance of a serious adverse outcome.

(8) "Reportable adverse event" means those adverse events a hospital is required to report to the department pursuant to regulations adopted under this chapter.

(9) "Safety system" means the comprehensive patient safety surveillance and improvement system established pursuant to this chapter and the regulations adopted hereunder.

(10) "Serious bodily injury" means bodily injury that creates a substantial risk of death or that causes substantial loss or impairment of the function of any bodily member or organ or substantial impairment of health or substantial disfigurement. (Added 2005, No. 215 (Adj. Sess.), § 324.)