The NHS Institute closed on 31 March 2013. This website is being maintained until the end of June 2013 so that registered users can download documents and view videos (but webinars are no longer available). Once this website is closed you'll be able to see all publicly available content on The National Archives website: http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/*/http://institute.nhs.uk.

Please note that from May 1st 2013 the ability to order our hard copy materials will be temporarily suspended as we finalise the closedown of the NHS Institute and complete the transition to NHS Improving Quality (part of NHS England). It will still be possible to download publications until this website closes, which is projected to be at the end of June 2013. It is currently anticipated that many of the materials will be passed onto NHS England and should become available again later this year.

Further messages on its future will be posted here over the coming weeks.

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Acute Trigger Tool

The Acute Trigger Tool is the approved UK version of IHI Global Trigger Tool.™

Monthly case note review using the Acute Trigger Tool can calculate the organisational rate of harm. It provides organisations with an unbiased measure of the incidence of harm experienced by their patients, which is caused by healthcare. It informs priorities for action and tracks improvements over time.

Step 1 Collect your case note data

The Acute Trigger Tool is a case-note review system. We recognise that some organisations may not have access to computer facilities in the secure area they use for case-note review and storage. Therefore we provide a pre-prepared form, in two formats: a paper version which you can download, and as a website tool.

Manually record your information onto paper, after you print out the Acute Trigger Tool form.
Enter the data directly into the website Trigger Tool Portal.

Step 2 Look at the results of your data

To review your data, you can log in to the Trigger Tool Portal, and choosing the Acute Trigger Tool, see your data presented in a variety of charts and graphs.

Materials to support you

Getting started with Case Note review – Resource Pack (with DVD) (available to buy soon)

View a video guide: Using the Acute Care Trigger Tool (please wait a moment for the video to appear on the page)

Training: here is the list of web seminars

IHI Global Trigger Tool for Measuring Adverse Events was developed by IHI. "Global Trigger Tool" is a common law trademark of the Institute for Healthcare Improvement.