RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Indicators for implementation outcome monitoring of reporting and learning systems in hospitals: an underestimated need for patient safety JF BMJ Open Quality JO BMJ Open Qual FD British Medical Journal Publishing Group SP e001741 DO 10.1136/bmjoq-2021-001741 VO 11 IS 2 A1 Kuske, Silke A1 Willmeroth, Tabea A1 Schneider, Jörg A1 Belibasakis, Sandra A1 Roes, Martina A1 Borgmann, Sandra Olivia A1 Cartes Febrero, Maria Ines YR 2022 UL http://bmjopenquality.bmj.com/content/11/2/e001741.abstract AB Objective We aimed to investigate the perception of the implementation success of reporting and learning systems in German hospitals, the perceived relevance of the implementation outcomes and whether and how these implementation outcomes are monitored. An reporting and learning system is a tool used worldwide for patient safety that identifies and analyses critical events, errors, risks and near misses in healthcare.Methods A pretested exploratory cross-sectional online survey was conducted with reporting and learning system experts from 51 acute care hospitals. For communicative validation, the results were discussed in person in an expert panel discussion (N=23).Results Fifty-three per cent (n=27) of the participants (N=51) of the online survey perceived that their reporting and learning system was being comprehensively and successfully implemented. However, no service or patient outcomes were reported to ultimately capture the concept of implementation success. Most of the participants reported a (high) relevance of the implementation outcomes’ acceptability and sustainability. In total, 44 measures were provided to monitor implementation outcomes. However, most of the quantitative measures were based on the (relative) number of entered reports. Qualitative measures were reported in relation to the ‘quality of the report’. In general, the measures were poorly specified.Conclusion There is an underestimated need to develop validated ‘implementation patient safety indicator(s) (sets)’ to monitor implementation outcomes of reporting and learning systems. We also identified a potential need to facilitate awareness of the concept of implementation success and its relevance for patient safety. Drafts of indicators that could be used as a starting point for the further development of ‘implementation patient safety indicators’ were provided.Data are available upon reasonable request. All data relevant to the study are included in the article or uploaded as supplementary information. Data are available upon reasonable request. Data are available from the Fliedner Fachhochschule Düsseldorf.