Regional West’s commitment to safety is evident in the newly revised cause analysis program. When a patient outcome represents a serious deviation from the expected outcome, Regional West investigates the event to identify potential problems and opportunities for improvement.
The cause analysis process reveals any shortcomings embedded in standards, expectations, procedures, processes, and behaviors. Regional West uses the information from these investigations to define recommendations for corrective actions to prevent the problem from recurring. Additionally, the hospital reviews cumulative cause analysis data over time to identify common themes and potential system issues.