Standards Must Be in Place to Respond to a Sentinel Event
Accredited organizations are required to define sentinel events for their own care system and implement monitoring procedures and a process for root cause analysis. The Joint Commission identifies sentinel events in its accreditation policies to assist with root cause analysis and the development of new preventive measures. The Joint Commission’s mission is “ to continuously improve health care for the public, in collaboration with other stakeholders, by evaluating health care organizations and inspiring them to excel in providing safe and effective care of the highest quality and value.” 2 The Joint Commission defines a sentinel event as an unanticipated event in a healthcare setting resulting in death or serious injury, physical or psychological, not related to natural causes or the patient’s illness. To ensure that healthcare organizations have a high-reliability culture, The Joint Commission Center for Transforming Healthcare published a report, “Sentinel Event Alert 60: Developing a Reporting Culture: Learning from Close Calls and Hazardous Conditions.” 1 The Joint Commission issued this report to encourage a reporting culture where swift action is taken to remedy unsafe conditions. Administrators are too, especially when those actions include reacting to a safety concern raised by an employee. Each staff member is responsible for their own actions. In any healthcare environment, patient safety is always top of mind. Best Practices for Sentinel Events: What Every Healthcare Organization Needs to Know Clinic & Hospital Supplies, Equipment, Furnishingsĭownload a printable poster here.
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