The use of "triggers," or clues, to identify adverse events (AEs) during a manual review of a random selected sample of patient charts is an effective method for measuring the overall level of harm in a health care organization over time. The Perinatal Trigger Tool provides instructions for conducting a retrospective review of patient records using triggers to identify possible adverse events. The tool defines an adverse event as any physical harm to the infant or mother, limiting the definition of adverse events to physical rather than emotional harm.

This tool includes instructions for conducting chart reviews, a list of known triggers, a review tool that helps to categorize triggers and adverse events, and a review summary sheet.

The FAQs document answers common questions that team members in IHI's IMPACT Learning and Innovation Community on Improving Perinatal Care and others have had regarding the use of this Trigger Tool.