An international taxonomy for errors in general practice: a pilot study

In today's e-mail from the AAFP:

Errors in primary care are likely to affect patients in similar ways in countries with similar primary health care systems, according to the first international patient safety study. The results of the study, coordinated by the AAFP's Robert Graham Center in Washington, show that for six countries with similar systems -- the United States, Australia, Canada, England, the Netherlands and New Zealand -- about 79 percent of the mistakes deal with"process" (including office administration, lab reports, medication, communication, payment and workforce management), while about 21 percent pertain to gaps in knowledge and skill on the part of physicians and others involved in providing care.

This is another call, I beleive, for enhanced emphasis on the use of information systems to enhance the essential components of patient care that we now understand are the most likely source for errors.  If the process works well, patients get good care and good service.