Root Cause Analysis Basics: A Resource Guide for Healthcare Managers

What happened? Why did it happen? How can we make sure it doesn't happen again? YOU HAVE QUESTIONS. You need Answers.

Root Cause Analysis Basics: A Resource Guide for Healthcare Managers is here to help!

By answering these basic questions, an effective root cause analysis (RCA) can boost patient safety, streamline processes, and prevent future problems. The Joint Commission requires accredited facilities to conduct an RCA when a sentinel event or near miss occurs because the process gets results . . . but only if everyone is willing to learn from mistakes and follow through with recommended plans of action.

Our experts have put their years of RCA experience to work for you. This valuable guide will explain how to conduct an RCA that works and how to develop and implement effective follow-up steps that everyone can take to prevent future problems. You'll learn:

- What goes into the RCA process
- Who to enlist for your RCA team
- Tips for creating a blame-free atmosphere to foster open communication
- How to identify all the root causes of an incident
- Ways to report your results and ensure that necessary changes are made

Take a look at the table of contents

Introduction: What is an RCA?
Chapter 1: Getting started
Chapter 2: Conducting an effective RCA
Chapter 3: Forming your RCA team
Chapter 4: Getting to the real issues
Chapter 5: Presenting your findings
Chapter 6: Measuring improvement and planning next steps
Chapter 7: Ensuring RCA success

Don't wait until something goes wrong get the root cause analysis information you need right now! This easy to use resource is accompanied by a customizable CD-ROM that will assist you in:

- Boosting patient safety
- Streamlining processes
- Preventing future problems

Candace J. Hamner, RN, MA, is Vice President of Care Management for Northwest Hospital Center, a LifeBridge Health center, in Randallstown, MD. In this role, she servers as the hospital's safety officer and Joint Commission survey coordinator, and she oversees the hospital's quality, performance improvement, patient safety programs, Joint Commission accreditation, utilization review, risk management, infection control, hospital volunteers, employee health, customer service, and health information management. Additionally, she has responsibility for the subacute unit, the Congestive Heart Failure community outreach program, medical library, social work, and case management. She has been actively involved in Joint Commission survey preparation since 1981 in four different hospitals.

Kurt A. Patton, MS, RPh, is the principal of Patton Healthcare Consulting, LLC. Patton served as executive director of Accreditation Services at The Joint Commission for more than seven years until his retirement in 2005. In this role, he worked with all types of accredited organizations seeking to be surveyed and new organizations seeking to become accredited. He managed the post-survey process for all accreditation programs, including issuance of accreditation decisions and reports as well as monitoring the organizational database for intra-cycle monitoring events. He supervised staff members involved in pre-survey support and analysis of organizational data. Since leaving The Joint Commission, Patton has opened an independent consulting practice to assist organizations in developing a systems approach to accreditation, regulatory compliance, and patient safety initiatives. He also works occasionally as a consultant for The Greeley Company in Danvers, Mass.