Risk factors for wrong-site surgery: a study of 1,166 reports of informed consent and schedule errors.

Previous research has found that inaccurate consent documents and procedural schedules can lead to patient harm, such as wrong-site surgery. Using the Pennsylvania Patient Safety Reporting System (PA-PSRS) database, researchers identified 1,166 consent and/or scheduling errors over a 4-year period. Of these errors, 56% were schedule errors and 34% were consent errors (10% involved both). Errors predominantly occurred at hospitals (86%, vs 14% at ambulatory surgery centers). Risk factors for consent and schedule errors included low health literacy and nonstandardized forms and/or workflows.