Run & Review Signal Alerts

Learn how to manually run the Signal Alert Rule Engine and review Statistical Data records.

About Signal Alerts

A signal alert indicates that a Product-Event Combination (PEC) of a Statistical Data record qualifies as a potential signal based on predefined Alert rules. To determine whether a PEC qualifies as a potential signal, Safety Signal uses a Signal Alert Rule Engine to detect when the signal calculations of a Statistical Data record meet a certain threshold or criteria. Signal alert criteria are compliant with industry standards; for example, Vault flags the Statistical Data record when the PEC is unlisted, and can be customized depending on your business needs. To set specific custom thresholds for signal alerts, contact your Admin.

You can manually run Signal Alert Rules from a Signal Reporting Period. When the Signal Alert Rule Engine runs, Vault evaluates Signal Alert Rule Sets, which include Signal Alert Rules configured by your Admin.

Prerequisites

Before Vault can use the Signal Alert Rule Engine to flag Statistical Data records, your Admin must complete the following:

• Enable the Signal Alert Rule Engine
• Configure Signal Product Profiles
• Configure Signal Alert Rules and Signal Alert Rule Sets

Manually Run the Signal Alert Rule Engine

On a Signal Reporting Period, you can manually trigger an action to run the Signal Alert Rule Engine:

1. Navigate to the Reporting Periods tab.
2. Hover over the applicable Signal Reporting Period and select the All Actions menu.
3. Select Run Signal Alert Rules.

Results

The Signal Alert Rule Engine runs and evaluates Signal Alert Rules for each Statistical Data record referenced under this Signal Reporting Period. For more information about how the Signal Alert Rule Engine runs and how Vault updates the Statistical Data records after the run, see the How the Signal Alert Rule Engine Runs section.

How the Signal Alert Rule Engine Runs

A Signal Product Profile defines a Product Family and the parameters used in signal detection. When you manually run the Signal Alert Rule Engine for a Signal Reporting Period, Vault looks at the reporting period’s referenced Signal Product Profile and evaluates each active Signal Alert Rule Set linked to the Signal Product Profile. Each active Signal Alert Rule is evaluated against each Statistical Data record in the Initial lifecycle state type. For the Signal Alert Rule Engine to run, the Signal Product Profile must reference the Safety Database source.

A Statistical Data record stores the signal calculation results, which the Signal Alert Rule Engine uses to determine whether the record meets the Signal Alert Rule criteria.

Scenarios

The sections below describe the different scenarios and Vault behavior that occur when you run the Signal Alert Rule Engine.

A Statistical Data Record Meets the Criteria for a Signal Alert Rule

If a Statistical Data record meets the criteria of at least a single Signal Alert Rule, Vault sets:

• The Alert field on the Statistical Data record to Yes.
• The Alert Category field on the Statistical Data record to indicate the Signal Alert Rule that was met. The standard options are:
  • Unlisted: When the PEC is not listed as indicated on the Case Assessment.
  • EB05 >= 2: When the EB05 signal calculation score is larger than or equal to two (2).
    If the Statistical Data record meets the criteria for multiple Signal Alert Rules, Vault sets multiple values in the Alert Category field. If you would like to add custom Signal Alert Rules based on your business needs, contact your Admin.
• The lifecycle state of the Statistical Data record to the Ready state type.

After the Signal Alert Rule Engine evaluates all Statistical Data records without error, Vault sends you a notification and an email.

A Statistical Data Record Does Not Meet Any Signal Alert Rule Criteria

If the Statistical Data record does not meet the criteria for any Signal Alert Rules, Vault sets:

• The Alert field on the Statistical Data record to No.
• The lifecycle state of the Statistical Data record to the Complete state type.

Vault Cannot Evaluate a Signal Alert Rule

If Vault cannot evaluate a Signal Alert Rule due to an error:

• Vault sends you a notification and an email with the following information:
  • A link to the associated Signal Reporting Period record.
  • A CSV file with a list and description of the errors encountered by the Signal Alert Rules.
• Vault sets the lifecycle state of the Signal Reporting Period record to the Error state type.
• Vault does not update the Statistical Data record and the record remains in the Initial lifecycle state type.

For more information about reviewing records after the Signal Alert Rule Engine runs, see the Review Statistical Data Records section.

Review Statistical Data Records

After the Signal Alert Rule Engine flags Statistical Data records as signal alerts, you can manually review the records from the applicable Signal Reporting Period:

1. Navigate to the Reporting Period tab and select the applicable record. You can also navigate to the applicable Signal Reporting Period from the email or Vault notification.
2. Expand the Statistical Data section and select Show in Tab to display records in tab view.
3. Optional: Set the Alert filter to Yes to narrow the view to only signal alerts.
4. Select the applicable Statistical Data record.
5. Review the Alert Category and the record.
6. Do one (1) of the following:
   • If the Statistical Data record requires further investigation, open a Safety Investigation and set the lifecycle state to Complete.
   • If the Statistical Data record requires further monitoring, set the Current Disposition field to Monitor and set the lifecycle state to Complete.