Institute for Healthcare Improvement
Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
The use of "triggers," or clues, to identify adverse events (AEs) during a manual review of a random selected sample of patient charts is an effective method for measuring the overall level of harm in a health care organization over time.
The Perinatal Trigger Tool provides a method for conducting a retrospective review of patient records using triggers to identify possible adverse events. The tool defines an adverse event as any physical harm to the infant or mother, limiting the definition of adverse events to physical rather than emotional harm.
Perinatal Trigger Tool
- Please use the IHI Global Trigger Tool for a more thorough description of the Trigger Tool methodology.
- Refer to the list of specific Perinatal Triggers (downloadable document below).
Perinatal Trigger Tool FAQs
The FAQs document answers common questions regarding the use of this Trigger Tool.
