What is considered a sentinel event in healthcare?

A sentinel event in healthcare is defined as an unexpected occurrence that involves serious injury or death, or the risk thereof. This means that these events are significant enough to signal the need for immediate investigation and response. The term "sentinel" suggests that these events indicate that something is wrong in the healthcare delivery process that warrants a closer look to prevent future occurrences.

For instance, if a patient suffers a serious injury during a routine procedure or dies as a result of a medical error, this would be classified as a sentinel event, prompting healthcare organizations to delve into the circumstances surrounding the event to identify root causes and implement corrective measures.

In contrast, routine patient discharges, scheduled medical procedures, and minor medication errors do not fall into this category as they do not typically involve serious injury or death. These activities are part of standard healthcare operations and, while they may be closely monitored for quality assurance, they do not indicate significant failures in the health care system that would prompt an urgent investigation.