What is a sentinel event?

• A. An unexpected occurrence involving death or serious physical or psychological injury, requiring immediate investigation.
• B. A planned event designed to improve patient satisfaction.
• C. A routine quality assurance activity.
• D. An incident that causes no injury but requires reporting.

Answer: (A)

A sentinel event is an unexpected occurrence that results in death or serious physical or psychological injury to a patient, or involves the risk of such harm, and it requires immediate investigation. This designation signals that something significant went wrong in care delivery and prompts a formal, timely inquiry to uncover root causes and implement changes to prevent recurrence. It isn’t about planned activities or routine checks, and it isn’t about incidents that cause no harm; those do not meet the sentinel criteria. The key idea is the combination of unexpected severe harm (or risk of harm) and the prompt, thorough investigation that follows to improve patient safety.