RPS is the first company to provide a comprehensive medical error reduction and compliance software program (MERP) specifically designed for radiation oncology.

MERP is a real-time, interactive error reduction and compliance software program.  MERP is based on over 10 years of clinical use in over 40 radiation oncology centers using external beam radiation therapy located throughout the United States.  MERP's non-intrusive data collection allows for timely information assimilation and analysis.  MERP complies with all JCAHO 2004 standards regarding patient safety [1].  MERP meets all JCAHO reporting criteria for sentinel events and "near misses" [2].  MERP fulfills all radiation safety state requirements for identification, correction, and reporting of unintended deviations in all 33 Agreement States and 17 Non-Agreement States [3].

Program features include:

• Monitored Areas
  • Clinical
  • QA
  • Radiation Safety
• Identification and Tacking of Errors
  • Preset standardized error codes
  • Classification of pre and post-treatment errors
  • Assignment of severity levels (I - V)
  • Designation of clinical significance
  • Designation of significant unintended deviation
  • "Near Miss" categorization
  • Sentinel events (internal and JCAHO reportable)
  • Instant analysis of patterns and trends
• Identification and Tacking of Violations
  • Preset standardized unintended deviation codes
  • Assignment of severity levels (I - V)
  • Recordable events
  • Misadministrations (medical events)
  • Regulatory violations
  • Possible regulatory violations
  • Instant analysis of patterns and trends
• Step-By-Step Root Cause Analysis
  • Determination of credible root cause analysis
  • Identification of causal factors
  • Identification of opportunities for improvement
• Action Plan Road Map
  • Risk-reduction strategy
  • Short-term corrective action
  • Long-term corrective action
  • Assignment of responsible individuals
• Patient Dose Error Calculation Wizard
  • Calculates % error in daily, weekly & total doses
  • Automatically triggers levels for reports
    • JCAHO root cause analysis and action plans
    • State regulatory notifications
• Review and Approval
  • Queue action plan(s) for review and approval
  • Accept or reject routine corrective action(s)
• Reports and Chart Generation
  • Generate reports showing characterization of errors and corrective actions
  • Show charts stratifying error types and severity levels
  • Select time intervals for charting of data
• Audit Compliance Tool
  • Use MERP to inspect regulatory performance
    • Complies with State radiation safety requirement for annual review
    • Meets State QMP rule for annual review
• Customization Features
  • Customize and create data collection areas for performance improvement priorities
    • Categories
    • Subcategories
    • Attributes
  • Designate who reviews/approvals routine errors and corrective actions
  • Assign which errors violate State requirements
  • Designate severity levels, clinically significant, and significant unintended deviations
• Standards/Requirements Referenced by Code
  • JCAHO 2004 patient safety standards show basis for question
  • CRCPD (Agreement State) recommended regulations (as of 9/04) show legal text

NOTE: If requested, automated 3rd party review and feedback is available for error data reporting & analysis.

[1] "Patient Safety - Essentials for Health Care", 2nd edition; Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations. Oakbrooke Terrace, IL: Department of Publications, 2004.

[2] "Sentinel Event Policies and Procedures -  Revised: July 2002", Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations, Accessed through http://www.jcaho.org/accredited+organizations/long+term+care/sentinel+events/index.htm.

[3] Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) provides assistance to States expressing interest in establishing programs to assume NRC regulatory authority under the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended.  Section 274 of the Act provides a statutory basis under which NRC relinquishes to the States portions of its regulatory authority to license and regulate byproduct materials (radioisotopes).  As of September 2004, 33 States have entered into "Agreements" with NRC, and others are currently being evaluated.