Clinical Risk Management
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| LAOS Program |
| LAOS Review Process |
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Limited Adverse Occurrence Screening Program
The Limited Adverse Occurrence Screening (LAOS) program provides Victoria’s small rural hospitals with a simple method of improving systems and quality of care. It does this by providing an anonymous, non-confrontational, general practitioner (GP) peer review of selected patient records with the involvement of the treating GP. This independent medical review may be otherwise difficult to obtain in the small hospital of a rural community.
LAOS aims to identify and prevent adverse events in Victoria’s small rural hospitals by retrospectively examining patient files for adverse events and educational opportunities. This also detects any previously unnoticed or unreported adverse incidents and helps highlight systematic problems.
Reviewed records with identified adverse events or a possible educational opportunity are sent to the treating VMO for comment. The reviewed, de-identified records are then taken to a divisional reference panel of at least four trained reviewing GPs who issue recommendations for system improvement or educational opportunities.
All recommendations are de-identified to protect the privacy of the patient, the doctor and the hospital. Common themes are presented at the Sentinel Event Review Subcommittee of the Clinical Risk Management Reference Group to inform the department about any state-wide issues where it may provide state-wide direction.
It is recognised that what has occurred in one small rural hospital may occur at another hospital unless there is system change.
Another benefit of being involved in LAOS is that it gives immediate GP-peer and divisional support. This is especially useful for GPs new to the area and for international medical graduates who have yet to fully understand the Australian and Victorian health system processes.
The divisions of general practice deliver the LAOS program by assisting small rural hospitals to maintain an independent 'arms-length' medical review process. The divisions of general practice are ideally placed to understand the needs of rural GPs and hospitals, while linking in with other general practice divisions and health providers.Continuing Professional Education
Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP)
Continuing professional development points are available for GP participation in LAOS.
RACGP category one points are available for GPs who undertake the full LAOS process.
Category two points are available for GPs who complete any one part of the process.
Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM)
Limited Adverse Occurrence Screening (LAOS)
Resources
Click here for the LAOS Annual Report for 2008-2009 (Victorian Government publication)
