On March 21, 2025, the new training initiative cycle organized by COMLAS – Scientific Society of Forensic Physicians in Healthcare Organizations was launched with a webinar titled: “Patient Safety and Risk Management in Healthcare: From Incident Reporting to Data Analysis for Improvement Actions in Healthcare Organizations.”
The event explored both the normative and operational foundations of clinical risk management, referring to two key legislative sources:
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Italian Law No. 208 of December 28, 2015 (Stability Law), Article 1, paragraph 539, which formally introduces the obligation to implement risk management systems in healthcare organizations, establishing a structured framework for monitoring and preventing adverse events.
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Italian Law No. 24 of March 8, 2017 (“Provisions on the safety of care and of the assisted person, as well as on the professional liability of healthcare professionals”), which reinforces the concept of safety as an integral part of the right to health, emphasizing the need for an organizational culture oriented towards learning from error.
Among the main tools discussed, incident reporting played a central role. This voluntary and anonymous reporting system allows healthcare professionals to document adverse or near-miss events, promoting a no-blame culture, free from blame or punishment. It is a crucial step toward building a safe environment where every critical issue becomes an opportunity for learning and improvement.
The webinar highlighted how the structured collection of such reports forms the basis for continuous improvement actions, capable of reducing risk, optimizing resources, and improving healthcare performance.
Featured speakers included:
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Dr. Doriana D’Aversa, Chief Business Development – Claims Office Coordination, Assigesco, who provided a concrete perspective on the relationship between clinical risk management and insurance governance, illustrating how claims can represent both a critical moment and a starting point for corrective actions.
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Dr. Valerio De Sanctis, Chief Technology Officer – Software Services Coordination, Assigesco, presented the technical and operational features of SaniRisk, an innovative digital solution developed using Microsoft .NET technology to support risk management. The platform is designed for collecting and analyzing data from incident reporting. His presentation emphasized the value of automation and predictive analysis in risk prevention, as well as the cybersecurity measures and technical-organizational safeguards adopted to ensure compliant data processing in accordance with regulations (GDPR, Italian Privacy Code).
The webinar reinforced the idea that only an integrated approach to risk management can drive a deep cultural and organizational shift. As also indicated in the “Training Manual for Clinical Governance: Patient and Operator Safety” (Italian Ministry of Health, January 2012), such an approach is capable of:
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reducing the incidence of adverse events;
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containing the costs associated with claims;
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reallocating resources toward structural and educational initiatives;
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strengthening the trust of both healthcare professionals and citizens in the healthcare system.
The official event page is available on the COMLAS.ORG website.
