Question

Which of the following is included in the IHI Global Trigger Tool definition of harm?

(A) Psychological harm such as a miscommunication about a diagnosis
(B) Financial harm from expensive medical bills
(C) The absence of needed care that contributes to harm, such as missed treatment for hypertension that leads to a stroke
(D) Physical injury caused by medical care that triggers additional care

Answer 1

The IHI Global Trigger Tool definition of harm focuses on physical injuries resulting from medical care that necessitates further treatment. Emotional harm is subjective and varies between individuals, and financial harm is not a part of this definition.

Step-by-step explanation:

The IHI Global Trigger Tool definition of harm includes a specific focus on actual patient harm from medical care that necessitates additional treatment. This can be things like a physical injury caused by medical care. Physical harm can include a variety of things such as a physical blow to the brain, electrical shock to the brain, disease growths in the brain, a chemical imbalance, or chemicals induced into the brain. Emotional harm is also an important factor; however, it is more nuanced and needs to be assessed on a case-by-case basis. Unlike the clear-cut impact of physical harm, emotional harm is subjective and varies from person to person.

To answer the student's question, among the options listed, the aspect included in the IHI Global Trigger Tool definition of harm is (D) Physical injury caused by medical care that triggers additional care. This aligns with the understanding that the tool is primarily used for identifying and measuring types of harm that are physical in nature and result directly from medical care or treatment.