Questions For Root Cause Analysis Participants (Job Titles)
Questions For Root Cause Analysis Participants (Job Titles)
Questions For Root Cause Analysis Participants (Job Titles)
Description of event:
1. What happened?
2. Where did process go wrong? What steps were involved in (contributed to) the event?
Human Factors
1. What role did human performance play in this event?
2. What human factors were relevant to this case? I.e. fatigue, staff illness, noise, temperature,
scheduling, personal problems, stress, rushing, cognitive errors?
5. Does the medical record documentation adequately provide a clear picture of what
happened?
2. What policies or procedure relate to the level and frequency of observation and monitoring?
3. Did the level and frequency of patient observation or monitoring meet standard of care?
4. What issues relating to philosophy of care or care planning had an impact on this case?
Staffing
1. How did staffing levels compare with ideal levels? (Give #s)
Training/Competency/
1. Were issues relating to staff training or staff competency a factor in this event? Is training
provided prior to the start of the work process?
2. Was an individual performing in a situation for which they were inappropriately trained or
prepared?
5. Has staff been adequately trained in the use of the equipment / products?
Environmental aspects
1. Was the work area or environment designed to support the function for which it was being
used? (i.e space, privacy, safety, access)
2. Does the work environment provide physical stressors for staff? (i.e. temperature, noise,
improper lighting)
3. Does the work environment meet current codes, specifications, and regulations?
5. What security systems and processes relate to this event? Were there issues related to
security systems and processes?
6. What emergency and failure modes responses have been tested? (safety evaluations, disaster
drills, etc?)
Leadership:
1. To what degree is the culture conducive to risk identification and reduction?
Other questions:
1. Are there any other factors that influenced this outcome?
4. What other areas or services are impacted (might have a similar event)?
2. Was there disclosure regarding the untoward outcome, details of the event?