Adverse Events Flashcards 2014

Questions and Answers

As of 2014, which of the following was among the top five most common sentinel events, according to The Joint Commission?

Delay in treatment (correct)

Patient fall

Medication error

Surgery on the wrong patient

Which of the following is the best example of an incident?

Patient receives an overdose of medication (correct)

Routine check-up

Scheduled surgery

Patient is discharged

The cause of an incident is:

A deviation

Which of the following is an example of a sentinel event?

Patient commits suicide Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is the best definition of 'sentinel event'?

An incident that leads to death or serious injury Signup and view all the answers

The reason for incident reports is to:

Study incidents to prevent future injury or harm Signup and view all the answers

When reporting an incident, report the following:

Where and when the incident happened Signup and view all the answers

According to The Joint Commission, the top three root causes of sentinel events have to do with patient assessment, orientation/training of facility staff, and:

Communication among clinicians Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is the best definition of 'incident'?

An event with an unwanted outcome Signup and view all the answers

When discussing an adverse event with a patient, a best practice is to:

Explain what happened and why Signup and view all the answers

When dealing with a conflict between you (the provider) and the patient or his or her family, it is best to continue to work alone toward building a better relationship.

False Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Sentinel Events and Incidents

Delay in treatment ranked among the top five sentinel events in 2014 as per The Joint Commission.
Incidents are characterized by unwanted outcomes, exemplified by medication overdoses.
The underlying cause of incidents is identified as deviations from standard facility operations or patient care.

Definitions and Examples

Sentinel events are unexpected occurrences that lead to death or serious injury, such as patient suicide.
The term "incident" refers to any event that results in an unwanted outcome.

Reporting and Prevention

The purpose of incident reports is to document and analyze incidents to prevent future injuries or harm.
Essential details to include in incident reports are the location and time of the incident.

Root Causes of Sentinel Events

The Joint Commission highlights three primary root causes of sentinel events:
- Patient assessment issues
- Inadequate orientation/training of facility staff
- Poor communication among clinicians

Best Practices

When discussing adverse events with patients, it is crucial to explain the situation and reasoning without assigning blame.
In conflict situations between healthcare providers and patients or their families, it is recommended to collaborate with another healthcare team member to improve the relationship.

Description

Test your knowledge on adverse events, specifically the most common sentinel events identified by The Joint Commission as of 2014. This quiz includes definitions and examples to help you understand key concepts related to patient safety and incident reporting.