Sentinel Events Drop Slightly In First Half Of 2020

A sentinel event is considered any event that involves hospital patient safety which may result in serious injury or even death.  Sentinel events lead to Connecticut medical malpractice cases in many instances and can be severe in nature.  

The Joint Commission (TJC) is reporting that in the first half of this year instances of these types of events have dropped slightly. While further study is required to determine the direct cause for this slight decrease it is thought that the focus on COVID-19 related matters led to the decline.

The largest category of sentinel events is in the care management category which includes falls, medication management, and delays in treatment. Care management issues can cause serious and lasting injury to a patient.

The next highest category that gives rise to sentinel events is surgical and invasive in nature, this can include the following;

• Complications from surgery or post-op complications,
• Performing an operation on the wrong limb,
• Leaving foreign objects inside a patient’s body.

While it is still unknown if COVID-19 had a direct impact on the minor drop in sentinel events over the first half of 2020, more studies will be done.

If you or a loved one suspect you have experienced Connecticut medical malpractice due to a sentinel event contact our office.  Our doctor/attorney Robert Messey and our nurse/attorney Gayle Sullivan will review your case.