The Joint Commission data for the year 2024 reveals that significant medical mistakes, known as Sentinel Events, increased by 13% over 2023. A Sentinel Event is ”patient safety event that results in death, permanent harm or severe temporary harm.”
Wrong Surgery Up 13%
Most wrong surgeries in 2024 took place at the wrong site (68%). Of these, (56%) were on the wrong side.
Sub Types of Wrong Surgery in 2024:
· Wrong Site 68%
· Wrong Patient 12%
· Wrong Procedure 11%
· Wrong Implant 9%
Patient Falls Continue to Spike
Falls continued to be the #1 most frequently reviewed Sentinel Event of 2024. Falls comprised 49% of all sentinel events reviewed! Patient falls have been topping the list for the past six years. Back in 2019, patient falls comprised only 18% of all Sentinel Events.
Many of These Tragic Events are Totally Preventable
The following are frequent causes of preventable events:
· Communication failures
· Failures in teamwork
· Not adhering to standard policies and procedures
List of Top Sentinel Events in 2024:
1. Patient falls
2. Wrong-site surgery,wrong procedure, wrong patient
3. Delay in treatment
4. Suicide
5. Unintended retention of a foreign object
6. Assault/rape/sexual assault /homicide
7. Fire / burns
8. Severe maternal morbidity
9. Medication management
10. Self-harm
Patient safety is not “rocket science,” but rather is based on consistently following common sense practices and in-place procedures. This ensures the best quality of care possible.
That said, it is incumbent upon healthcare providers to be disciplined – and to take the time and initiative to utilize simple communication techniques as well as standard policies and procedures that will prevent unnecessary medical blunders that cause significant patient harm.
Source:
The Joint Commission “Sentinel Event Data 2024 Annual Review”