Table 1 Comparison of the SEIPS model, the Reason/Vincent model, and Donabedian's quality model.

Model	Strengths	Weaknesses
SEIPS model of work system and patient safety	Focus on system design and its impact on processes and outcomes Broad view of processes Description of system, its components and interactions among components Impact on patient safety and employee/organizational outcomes	Descriptive model; no specific guidance as to the critical elements
Reason/Vincent model of accidents and adverse events	Focus on etiology of accidents and adverse events Description of contributing factors	No discussion of processes No guidance for system redesign and improvement of patient safety
Donabedian's model of quality (structure‐process‐ outcome, SPO)	Description of relationships between structure, processes and outcomes	Narrow description of “structure” Limited description of processes