A Comparative Study of Healthcare Risk Management Programs in Selected Countries and Suggesting a Model for Iran

• Introduction: The goal of every healthcare risk management program is to reduce the possibility of undesired events for patients. Such programs include identifying undesired events, analyzing their causes, estimating the possibility of outbreak and their results and taking proper actions to prevent their recurrence. The goal of this study was to compare healthcare risk management programs in selected countries and to propose a model for Iran. • Methods: This descriptive-comparative study included England, the USA and Australia. National Health Services (NHS), Joint Commission on Accreditation of Health care Organization (JCAHO) and Medical Defenses Association of Victoria (MDAV) were selected as samples (because of functionality scope). Available information through the Internet, email and library references were used to collect data. Data was analyzed by comparative tables and descriptive statistical methods. The final model was prepared based on the performed analyses and after obtaining the viewpoints of related specialists. • Results: There were numerous common points between the risk management process and documentation principles while few were observed in informed consent gathering principles. On the other hand, many differences were found among data elements in incident report forms. JCAHO gave more roles to medical record managers. • Conclusion: Despite common points in risk management principles, each sample had mainly focused on needs and infrastructures of care delivery in their country. • Key words: Risk Management; Healthcare; Information Management.