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Root cause analysis (RCA) is an established adverse event identification method. This webinar will highlight the importance of a just culture to ensure reporting is robust. It will introduce RCA techniques, patient communication strategies and the importance of appropriate post-analysis response to support improvement.

The National Quality Forum has defined 29 never events—patient safety problems that should never occur, such as wrong-site surgery and patient falls. Since 2003, Minnesota hospitals have been required to report such incidents. The 2021 report summarizes information about 508 adverse events that were reported, representing a significant increase in the year covered. Earlier reports document a fairly consistent count of adverse events. The rise reflected here is likely due to demands on staffing and care processes associated with COVID-19. Pressure ulcers and fall-related injuries were the most common incidents documented. Reports from previous years are available.

Incident investigations are important tools for uncovering latent factors that facilitate patient harm. This conference will draw from experience in the United Kingdom to discuss how adverse event examinations can improve care provision and will highlight efforts in the United Kingdom to focus on maternity care safety.

Root cause analysis (RCA) is a recognized approach to examining failures by identifying causal factors to target improvement work. This session will build on a Patient Safety Organization's experience in conducting 450 RCAs to aid participants in leading RCAs and planning implementation strategies to address detected contributors to failure.

Misdiagnosis of neurological conditions, such as stroke, can lead to delays in treatment and patient morbidity and mortality. This report outlines findings from an inquiry into one misdiagnosis attributed to one neurologist in Ireland and discusses the leadership, system, process, and communication failures which permitted misdiagnoses to go unchecked.

Quality and safety improvement efforts need to address intersecting influences to achieve lasting change. This conference will provide content on seven themes that contribute to improvement. Topics discussed specific to patient safety will include culture assessment, safety science, and event reporting.