This Sentinel Events for Healthcare Employees Training course equips healthcare providers with essential knowledge about sentinel events and their impact on patient safety. Participants will learn to identify various types of sentinel events, recognize common root causes, and understand the critical role all healthcare staff play in prevention through ongoing vigilance. The course also emphasizes the importance of timely reporting and introduces the principles of root cause analysis (RCA) as a systematic approach to incident investigation. By completing this training, providers will be better prepared to uphold safety standards and contribute to a culture of continuous improvement in healthcare settings.
What You Will Learn:
- Different types of sentinel events
- How healthcare employees at all levels contribute to preventing sentinel events through vigilance
- Common root causes of sentinel events
- The importance of reporting sentinel events
- Root cause analysis (RCA) for investigating sentinel events
Details:
Course length: 45 minutes; CME: 0.75
Languages: American English
Key features: Audio narration, learning activity, and post-assessment.
American Medical Compliance is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education to physicians. Our Continuing Medical Education (CME) program is committed to enhancing the knowledge, skills, and professional performance of healthcare providers to improve patient care outcomes. Through high-quality educational activities, we aim to address the identified educational gaps and to support the continuous professional development of our medical community. American Medical Compliance designates this activity for a maximum of 0.75 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits. Physicians should only claim this credit for their complete participation in this activity.
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Summary of Sentinel Events
Through this course, healthcare providers will learn what sentinel events are and why they demand immediate attention. They will explore how The Joint Commission evaluates healthcare organizations’ responses to these events during accreditation surveys. Next, they will understand that sentinel events involve unexpected harm—or risk of harm—such as death, loss of limb, or loss of function. They will also learn that not all sentinel events are caused by errors, and not all errors result in sentinel events. Most importantly, this course explains why prompt investigation and action are critical.
Such events are called sentinel because they signal the need for immediate investigation and response.
The terms “sentinel event” and “error” are not synonymous; not all sentinel events occur because of an error, and not all errors result in sentinel events.
By understanding these principles, providers can help improve patient safety and meet regulatory expectations.
Reviewable Sentinel Events
In this course, healthcare providers will learn which sentinel events The Joint Commission reviews and why understanding them is essential. They will study how reviewable events include unanticipated deaths, permanent loss of function, or serious incidents like suicide, rape, abduction, or elopement. Even if these outcomes do not result in death, they still require close attention. Providers will see how such events may come to light through formal reporting or other sources, such as patients or staff.
The definition of a reviewable sentinel event takes into account a wide array of occurrences applicable to a wide variety of health care organizations. Any or all occurrences might apply to a particular type of health care organization. Thus, not all of the following occurrences might apply to your particular organization.
This knowledge helps healthcare workers recognize high-risk situations and respond appropriately. As a result, they support safer care and align with accreditation expectations.
Root Cause Analysis
This course teaches healthcare providers how to respond to sentinel events using root cause analysis (RCA) and why that process is vital. First, they learn immediate steps—stabilizing the patient, notifying leadership, and supporting those affected. Then, they explore how to conduct a comprehensive investigation, identify causal factors, and develop strong, lasting corrective actions. The course also explains the value of reporting sentinel events to The Joint Commission, including access to expert guidance and contributions to national learning.
A few ways to appropriately respond include:
- Stabilize the patient
- Disclose the event to the patient and family
- Provide support for the family and staff involved
- Notification to the hospital leadership
Importantly, providers discover how effective RCA requires leadership involvement, interprofessional teamwork, and system-focused solutions. These skills help reduce future harm and reinforce a strong culture of safety.
Reasons to Report Errors
This course helps healthcare providers understand why reporting sentinel events—even when not required—benefits both their organization and the broader healthcare system. They learn that voluntary reporting contributes valuable insights to The Joint Commission’s Sentinel Event Database. This helps others prevent similar events. In addition, early reporting opens the door for expert consultation during root cause analysis and action planning. The training also highlights how a transparent approach demonstrates a strong commitment to patient safety.
Most importantly, providers will see that effective analysis focuses on systems, not individuals, using a structured, in-depth method to uncover and correct underlying issues. This process supports long-term risk reduction and safer care delivery.
