Risk assessment in Brazilian hospitals according to the potential risk assessment methodology

Abstract Objective To describe the operationalization of risk assessment in health services in the light of the Risk Potential Assessment Model (MARP). Method Descriptive study of multiple cases, whose “cases” were hospitals in greater Florianópolis, Santa Catarina. The Operating Room (OR), Sterile Processing Department (SPD), and Intensive Care Unit (ICU) were evaluated using Objective Inspection Guides. The risk classification of these units resulted in three risk levels: acceptable, tolerable, and unacceptable. Results It was observed that the ORs and the ICUs have the highest percentages of acceptable risk levels, with 76%, and SPDs the lowest, with 50%. The percentages of acceptable risk are higher in small hospitals, with 87% for ORs and 89% for ICUs. In medium-sized hospitals, the acceptable risk is 50% for OR and ICU, and in large hospitals, an acceptable risk of 63% was identified for ORs and 40% for ICUs. Conclusion This study confirms the importance of adopting a quantitative methodological framework for assessing risk and benefit in complex systems such as health services and, in this regard, this study consolidate the MARP as a feasible model, easy to apply and with technology of great relevance for Health Surveillance, responsible for the health control of health services.