The Occurrence Variance Report (OVR) is a tool used in medical laboratories to track and analyze discrepancies or variations in test results, procedures, or outcomes. It helps to identify and investigate any deviations from expected norms or standards, allowing for corrective actions to be taken to prevent future occurrences. The OVR typically includes information such as the nature of the variance, possible causes, impact on patient care, and recommendations for improvement.
Adverse incidents are a global issue and constitute the leading cause of death, although many of them are preventable. Patient safety is a significant challenge faced by healthcare professionals in hospitals. It is an essential element of high-quality care, which may be negatively affected by a deficiency in reporting clinical incidents. Healthcare professionals report only 1-3% of clinical incidents.
According to data from WHO, 2021, in high-income countries, one in ten patients experiences an adverse incident while receiving hospital care. In developing nations, available evidence indicates that up to one in four patients is vulnerable to harm, and 134 million adverse incidents resulting from substandard care occur every year, leading to around 2.6 million deaths. Of these deaths, 60% are recognized as unsafe and low-quality care. This leads to more than 8 million deaths annually in low and middle-income countries, leading to economic welfare losses of $6 trillion.
An occurrence variance report (OVR) or incident report is a principal administrative tool for ongoing risk identification as it provides comprehensive facts about an incident or adverse event. Occurrences are classified as 1) A sentinel event, which is an unanticipated incidence including the death or serious physical or psychological harm, or risk thereof, containing the loss of limb or function, signaling the need for immediate examination and response, 2) A major event that did not affect the outcome but for which a recurrence carries a significant chance of a severe adverse outcome, 3) near miss which did not affect the outcome (by chance or intervention), but for which a recurrence carries a significant chance of serious adverse outcomes, and finally, 4) an occurrence that is defined as any event or circumstance that deviates from established standards or care.
"Variance" measures anything that does not fit the hospital organization's norms or competent practices. Variance is considered an unintended, unexpected incident in a healthcare setting that results in adverse incidents such as damage, harm, or malpractice claims. Moreover, incident reporting permits the appreciation of sentinel events, near-misses, and potential malpractice threats. Therefore, hospitals should set clear guidelines that guarantee the prevention of recurrence. Implementing an occurrence variance reporting system (OVR) to collect and document information about patient incidents can help to avoid or manage incidents and is considered an essential element in enhancing safety and quality of care.
An OVR is a form to document the details of an occurrence, the investigation of the occurrence, and the corrective actions taken. The goal was to create a systematic, standardized hospital-wide mechanism for identifying and preventing events that directly or indirectly impact patient care and pose a risk to patients, visitors, volunteers, trainees, employees, and the facility. Regrettably, factors that hinder healthcare providers from finding OVR involve time constraints, work pressure, lack of instructions, forgetfulness, unclear processes, the complexity of the reporting system, systems not providing confidentiality, lack of feedback, peer pressure, fear of job loss or superior punishment. Understanding the causes of underreporting healthcare occurrences may help identify necessary corrective actions. Proper implementation of OVR can provide useful data and help organizations improve their safety practices.
For more information; please visit:
WHO, Global Patient Safety Action Plan