The New International Classification for Patient Safety (ICPS) from the World Health Organization

Modern health systems struggle to share and access health information, resulting in massive waste and frequent avoidable harm to patients. A big part of the problem is a lack of standardised terminology. The new International Classification for Patient Safety (ICPS ) from the World Health Organization (WHO) is an important step in addressing the problem. Using this common classification, healthcare providers all over the world will be able to speak the same language - enabling them to compare performance, to learn from one another and to consider rare but catastrophic accidents that can only be detected and understood in very large data collections. 

For more information about this important project visit the APSF site or the ICPS page of the WHO website.

A Delphi process conducted by the World Alliance for Patient Safety to gather comments on the ICPS is now under way. This process is designed to obtain vitally important feedback on the proposed conceptual framework, concepts and terms. Practitioners and other experts interested in patient safety are invited to participate in the Delphi Survey.

As a result of the feedback received through the Delphi Survey, the ICPS will be further revised. Field testing will commence in 2007. It is envisioned that the finalised version of the ICPS will be available in 2008.