A delay in treatment could result in a delay in diagnosis or follow-up care to prevent further harm or death. This event is defined as a patient not receiving the treatment that was ordered in the timeframe that was ordered. Delay in Treatmentĭelay in treatment is one of the other most common sentinel events reported to the Joint Commission. In order for the fall to be considered a sentinel event by the Joint Commission, the patient would have had to experience significant injury, required additional treatment (such as surgery, casting, or ongoing care), or death as a result of the fall. ![]() The Joint Commission doesn’t have an official definition of a fall however, one should be established within an organization. FallsĪlthough they weren’t added to the Joint Commission’s definition of a sentinel event until January of 2021, falls are currently one of the most frequent sentinel events reviewed by the organization. Whether it comes about due to a careless error or a true accident, being prepared for different events can help you stay aware of situations and know exactly what to do in case one were ever to occur. This not only holds organizations accountable for careless and preventable accidents, but it also helps organizations to understand what practices should be adjusted or reevaluated to better protect patients in the future. Individual sentinel events policies should also be consistent throughout the entire organization in order to clearly define when incidents should be escalated and reported.īy partnering with healthcare organizations to record and analyze dangerous or harmful events, the overall safety of patients can be much improved. This policy can be based on the Joint Commission’s policy and definitions, although it should be relevant to the patient population at each facility. In order to provide the best care possible for patients, healthcare organizations should have a sentinel events policy of their own. Even if the event is not reported to the Joint Commission, organizations are still required to conduct their own root cause analysis. Although facilities aren’t obligated to report incidents, they are highly encouraged to do so. ![]() The Sentinel Events Policy defines a sentinel event and helps hospitals and other healthcare facilities recognize errors and improve safety in the future. The Joint Commission, a healthcare accrediting agency, is committed to ensuring quality care and safety to patients, which is why they’ve established a Sentinel Events Policy. A sentinel event speaks to the safety of a healthcare center, so any situation that could be considered unsafe and preventable falls into this category and should be looked into further. ![]() These events uncover weaknesses in the healthcare system and could range from careless accidents to serious medical errors.Īlthough the term “sentinel event” typically refers to a situation harming a patient, it could also be used to describe harm to staff or visitors within the healthcare facility. The harm could be either physical or psychological and is not primarily related to the patient’s illness or underlying condition.
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