Sentinel Events
Identifying Attributes
Care Settings
Hospital Care
Country
Australia
Publishing Organisation
Australian Health Performance Framework, Productivity Commission: Health - Public Hospitals
Type of Quality Indicator
Outcome
IOM Quality Dimension
Safety
Domain
Complications and Adverse Events
Defining Attributes
Definition
The number of reported adverse events that occur because of hospital system and process deficiencies, and which result in the death of, or serious harm to, a patient.
Numerator
The incidence of total and individual sentinel events.
Denominator
This is a continuous variable.
Exclusions
As per specifications document for each sentinel event type.
Use of Risk Adjustment
No
Risk Adjustments
None
Stratifications
By type of sentinel event (see specifications document) and state/territory.
Collection and Reporting Attributes
Type of Data Collection
Administrative data
Data Collection Methods
Via state or territory's incident reporting system
Frequency of Data Collection
Annually
Frequency of Data Collection in Days
365
Reporting Frequency
Annually
Reporting Frequency in Days
365
Indicator Has Recommended Targets
No
Source and Reference Attributes
Link to Measurement Tools
Quality Indicator Confirmed to be Part of a Program Used to Monitor Quality and Safety of Care Among Older People at a Population-Level between 2012-2022
Yes
Assessed by the Australian Consortium for Aged Care Collaborators as Generally Containing Good Properties (Importance and Scientific Acceptability)
Yes
Australian Consortium for Aged Care Endorsed
Yes
Identified by PHARMA-Care Project
No
Upload Date
02 December 2025
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Date Modified 02 December 2025