Laboratory discussion meetings help to prevent medical errors. The staff can meet periodically to discuss recent averted adverse events and ones that might have been averted.

Discussion should not be about blame. Privacy must be protected, so real names should not be identified. Management can provide guidelines for discussion and analysis.

A suggested format for discussion:
1. Briefly describe each adverse event.
2. Identify its possible causes.
3. Discuss relevant guidelines.
4. Suggest possible preventive actions.

Discussion can include actions that do and do not work to prevent medical errors.