Identifying & Reporting Safety Events Text Lesson

Definition and Types of Patient Safety Events

In this module, we define patient safety events and explore the different categories of safety incidents that can occur in a healthcare setting. Understanding these definitions is crucial for accurate reporting and prevention. To make these concepts clear, we will follow the case scenario of Mrs. Adjoa Obeng, a patient at high risk for falls, throughout her hospital stay.

Study Duration

5 Min

A Patient Safety Event is defined as an unintended or unexpected incident, circumstance, or

action that could have resulted, or did result, in harm to a patient while they were receiving

healthcare services.

Essentially, a safety event occurs when something deviates from the planned or standard process

of care. This deviation may be due to a system breakdown (like faulty equipment), a process failure

(like a communication gap), or human error. Crucially, a safety event is classified based on whether

it reached the patient and the level of harm it caused.

Types of Patient Safety Events

To manage and report incidents effectively, we categorize them into the following five types:

1. Hazards or Unsafe Conditions

2. Near Misses

3. No Harm Events

4. Adverse Events

5. Sentinel Events

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