5 things to know about sentinel events from The Joint Commission

The Joint Commission formally adopted sentinel event policies and procedures in 1996 to deal with serious issues. Here are five things to know about sentinel events:

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1. A sentinel event often results in patient harm, severe temporary harm and intervention to sustain life or death.

2. Sentinel events require immediate investigation and response. Accredited organizations are strongly encouraged to report sentinel events to The Joint Commission to help others learn.

3. The Joint Commission provides support during sentinel event reviews and collaborate with providers for future patient safety.

4. Reporting sentinel events also shows the public a provider will go above and beyond to prevent similar events in the future.

5. Action plans for sentinel events include:

• Identifying corrective actions
• Assigning responsibility for implementation
• Developing a timeline for completion
• Strategic evaluation of the actions
• Designing strategies for sustainable change

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