Question

What is a Sentinel event? Why are they important?

Answer 1

Ans. A sentinel event is defined by American healthcare accreditation organization The Joint Commission as any unanticipated event in a healthcare setting resulting in death or serious physical or psychological injury to a patient or patients, not related to the natural course of the patient's illness.

Sentinel events are unexpected events that result in a patient's death or a serious physical or psychological injury. Examples of the most commonly occurring sentinel events include unintended retention of a foreign object, falls and performing procedures on the wrong patient.

The Sentinel Event Policy

Careful investigation and analysis of Patient Safety Events (events not primarily related to the natural course of the patient's illness or underlying condition), as well as evaluation of corrective actions, is essential to reduce risk and prevent patient harm.