An incident where significant harm to a patient has occurred is called what?

An incident where significant harm to a patient has occurred is called what?

• A. Sentinel event
• B. Near miss
• C. Adverse event
• D. Medical error

Answer: (A)

A sentinel event is an unexpected occurrence that results in death or serious physical or psychological injury, or the risk thereof, and it requires immediate investigation and action to prevent recurrence. When a incident leads to significant harm to a patient, it fits this definition because the outcome is severe and not anticipated in routine care. This differs from a near miss, where no harm occurs despite the potential for harm. An adverse event is harm that comes from medical care but isn’t necessarily unexpected or as severe, so it’s a broader category. A medical error describes a mistake in the care process itself, which may contribute to harm but doesn’t define the event by its outcome. The key point is the combination of serious, unintended harm and the need for prompt review, which is why this is labeled a sentinel event.

A sentinel event is an unexpected occurrence that results in death or serious physical or psychological injury, or the risk thereof, and it requires immediate investigation and action to prevent recurrence. When a incident leads to significant harm to a patient, it fits this definition because the outcome is severe and not anticipated in routine care. This differs from a near miss, where no harm occurs despite the potential for harm. An adverse event is harm that comes from medical care but isn’t necessarily unexpected or as severe, so it’s a broader category. A medical error describes a mistake in the care process itself, which may contribute to harm but doesn’t define the event by its outcome. The key point is the combination of serious, unintended harm and the need for prompt review, which is why this is labeled a sentinel event.