Overview: Oregon Adverse Event Disclosure Guide
A Resource for Physicians and Healthcare Organizations
The Oregon Adverse Event Disclosure Guide is intended to help Oregon’s physicians and healthcare organizations better understand the purpose of disclosure and provide resources to help develop and improve disclosure programs in Oregon healthcare organizations. The guide is organized in a question-and-answer format to help readers navigate to useful information.
Download a printable copy of the Oregon Adverse Event Disclosure Guide (pdf)
Why Should Events be Disclosed?
Contents: Reasons why providers and healthcare organizations should disclose adverse events, common disclosure concerns, legal protection for disclosures made in Oregon, and additional resources
How Should an Event be Disclosed?
Contents: Common elements of disclosure, the importance of supporting disclosure through an organizational culture of safety, examples of successful disclosure policies and programs, and additional resources
Why Should Oral Disclosure & Written Notification be Used Together?
Contents: The value of combining oral disclosure and written notification and the specific role that written notification can play in adverse event disclosure
What Information Should be Disclosed?
Contents: The components that should be included in any oral disclosure or written notification, downloadable sample written notification letters, and additional resources
When Should an Event be Disclosed?
Contents: Perspectives and work plan for ensuring disclosure is provided in a timely manner
To Whom Should Disclosure be Made?
Contents: Brief statement on who should receive a disclosure
By Whom Should Disclosure be Made?
Contents: Perspectives, tools, and additional resources for individual and team approaches to disclosure
Are There Reasons Not to Disclose an Event?
Contents: Discussion of the limited circumstances in which a disclosure may not be made, suggestions for when to modify disclosures to fit the specific circumstances of the event, and additional resources
Additional Resources
Two entities have compiled extensive bibliographies on the subject of disclosure that provide a range of research and perspectives:
- Communicating After an Adverse Event: Selected Bibliography and Resources. Institute for Healthcare Improvement, 2009.
- Disclosure of Adverse Events to Patients: Annotated Bibliography. Washington University in St. Louis, School of Medicine.
