To which organization must a sentinel event be reported?

Sentinel events are critical incidents that result in significant harm or death to a patient, and they require prompt investigation and response from healthcare organizations to improve patient safety. The Joint Commission is the recognized body responsible for accrediting healthcare organizations and enforcing quality standards, including the mandatory reporting and analysis of sentinel events.

The Joint Commission has established a specific definition for sentinel events and demands that accredited institutions investigate these incidents in order to identify and eliminate the root causes of such events. This process not only aims to ensure accountability but also to promote improvement in healthcare practices and to enhance patient safety. Reporting to The Joint Commission allows for the dissemination of knowledge and preventive measures across the healthcare system, potentially preventing future occurrences of similar events.

While other organizations, such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the National Quality Forum, and the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, play important roles in healthcare research, quality assessment, and epidemiological studies, they are not the designated entities for the mandatory reporting of sentinel events. Instead, the focus on improving quality and safety through sentinel event reporting rests predominantly with The Joint Commission, reinforcing its vital role in the quality assurance landscape in healthcare.