​Organizations that design and implement integrated risk management and quality assurance and performance improvement (QAPI) systems can reduce harm and help manage legal risks during discovery, according to an article published in the September/October 2017 issue of Annals of Long-Term Care. The author suggests that aging-services providers can use a systems thinking approach to both satisfy regulatory requirements and manage risks to providers and the organizations they represent. Litigation discovery has the potential to “create a juxtaposition," the author said, of harming the organization if “ 'problems' are discovered and QAPI information is used against the provider." In addition, the organization can be harmed through discovery of failing to address and prevent adverse events that share root causes. However, according to the author, a systems thinking approach allows organizations to understand how structures, processes, and people “interrelate" and help mitigate adverse events and improve outcomes. The author suggests that organizations develop an “integrated culture" by providing staff with clear definitions of reportable events (with matching policies and procedures for handling such events); distinguishing between risk management and quality improvement; distinguishing initial investigations from QAPI activities, to clarify QAPI committee purpose and use; and ensuring that QAPI work product includes performance improvement recommendations to prevent future harmful incidents.