

However, data show that errors and bad outcomes are often caused by the combination of many actors making decisions based on what they see as the best course of action in a given set of circumstances. Historically, the American criminal justice system has taken a "bad apple" approach to these errors in which blame is assigned to an individual or agency after a negative event. In criminal justice, a sentinel event might include the premature release from prison of an individual who quickly reoffends or commits a violent crime, the wounding of a police officer by a mentally ill probationer, a wrongful arrest or conviction that leaves the real perpetrator at large, an in-custody death, the loss of probative evidence on a crime scene or in a lab, an out-of-policy police shooting, or a "good catch" in which a negative event was narrowly avoided. To learn more, request a demo below.A "sentinel event" is a significant, unexpected, negative outcome that is indicative of wider systemic problems. Streamlined reporting, real-time notifications and alerts, and smart analytics empower healthcare organizations to take a data informed approach towards RCA control and prevention. Performance Health Partner’s Incident Reporting System places patients first and helps organizations drastically improve quality of care.
SENTINEL EVENTS SOFTWARE
Using an incident reporting software as opposed to tracking events on paper is one way to greatly speed up the process of conducting root cause analysis of a sentinel event and get actionable results. It is difficult to track trends or identify areas for improvement when you are keeping track of root cause analysis information in Excel or on paper. Healthcare organizations often face challenges when conducting an RCA. When employees see that the changes implemented have truly been beneficial, this will encourage them to play a part in making the changes happen. Implementing the new plan means making changes to the existing processes that are in place and making sure that those changes are carefully managed. It is important for everyone that is involved with the root cause analysis of a sentinel event to know about each step of the process to effectively prevent future errors and reduce the costs that arise from those errors.


It breaks down the number of times the failure has occurred, the actions that have been implemented by the organization, and if interventions to improve patient safety have been effective. The Failure Mode and Effect Analysis (FMEA) tool is used to identify which parts of the problem are faulty so that they can be prevented in the future. The fishbone diagram method helps team mem bers visually diagram an incident, and allows them to focus on the problem instead of just the symptoms. This method of root cause analysis is a graphical tool used to map the root causes of a sentinel event (5).

This is also known as the Cause and Effect diagram. Why was he unable to use his walker? Answer: The walker was in the closet and not readily accessible for his use.Why was there nothing for him to hold onto? Answer: He was unable to use his walker.Why did he lose his balance? Answer: Because he had nothing to hold onto.Why did the patient fall? Answer: Because he lost his balance.Why did the patient break his hip? Answer: Because he fell.(3) Simply ask the question “Why?” five times, which allows you to discover the root cause of the problem more clearly when you find that the answers to the “Why” questions are interrelated. 5 Why’sĪ simple risk management tool that is used to investigate a straightforward problem. The most common types of root cause analysis are: 1. It is important to find the method that fits best within your organization. Hospitals and other types of healthcare facilities often use RCAs to investigate sentinel events.Ī sentinel event can be described as “an occurrence in a healthcare setting that has resulted in either death or a major loss of a body function.” (2)īeing able to identify the RCA plays a major role in preventing future occurrences. (1) This process is critical in identifying strategies that can prevent harmful incidents and events within the healthcare setting. A Root Cause Analysis (RCA) is a systemic approach towards problem solving used to determine the root cause of a problem.
