Government regulation of serious reportable events in healthcare

¶ … Reportable Events

Importance of Reportable Events (SREs) and How the Government is Involved

An "SRE" stands for a "serious reportable event." This usually means any action/incident that involves death or irreparable damage done to a patient due to a carelessness or oversight on a heath care facility's part. The term was first put forth by the National Quality Forum (NQF) and usually refers to events that should "never happen." All events that fall under the category of "serious reportable event" are caused by negligence, are avoidable and should never happen. SRE's or "never events" as they are commonly referred to must be reported. Over time, SRE's have become a reportable offense, with more and more states demanding that SRE's be reported.

SRE's are serious occurrences that are of serious concern for physicians, healthcare facilities and the public. Care providers are looked upon with complete confidence and regarded as the pinnacle of responsibility. The policies of any health care facility need to be transparent and more than protecting itself the focus must have aclearly identifiable and measurable reporting system. Risks and gross negligence have a basis in the less than satisfactory procedures of any health care facility. The government has made matters better by labeling SRE events as non-chargeable and hospitals are unable to gain reimbursement for such events.

2. The 2011 Serious Reportable Events (SREs) that are the Most Important and Relevant to Me

I would like to be employed in an Ambulatory Practice Setting. According to data collected in the year 2011, the following events are defined under the category of SRE's that can occur in a health care facility:

Surgical or Invasive Procedural Events: such events can be categorized as any procedure that is both invasive and not in alignment with the immediate and documented consent of the patient. The most commonly noted procedures are as follows:

Endoscopies

Lens implantations

Lesion removals

Joint injections

The key to avoiding such events is making sure that all the paper-work is handy and in order. Patient identification and surgical consent forms should be kept carefully and within patient records. Procedures that are not going to require an operating room must be given extra attention to avoid SREs.

Care Management Events

Medication errors, connected with risky management of blood products, maternal injury or death caused by improper care in a risky delivery procedure, or a low risk pregnancy that ended up in injury or death due to the neglect of a health care facility can also be termed an SRE.