Overview
We all hope to avoid negative events such as mistakes and inefficiency as far as possible, but sometimes they do happen. At the same time, we want to continually improve our ways of working in terms of factors like safety, efficiency, and staff and patient wellbeing. When unexpected significant events at the dental practice occur, we can gain valuable insight from them with the correct leverage. Significant event analysis (SEA) is a simple and structured way for dental teams to reflect on events that have affected, or could have affected, patient safety or the smooth running of the practice. The analysis after the event helps teams ensure that a near miss does not happen again, or that a disaster is mitigated. Alternatively, if the significant events at the dental practice are something positive, such as a patient recommending a dentist to several friends, or a good news story about the practice going viral, SEA can explore how to encourage more of these events.
When carried out correctly, SEA supports learning, improves quality, and strengthens clinical governance. Anyone working in the practice will also likely feel more relaxed and confident knowing that there is a system in place for minimising risk and maximising positive outcomes.
This guidance explains what we mean by significant events at the dental practice, and how you can identify them. You can also learn about who should be involved in the analysis, and follow a multi-step plan for practices to carry out the SEA process effectively. Find out what questions you should ask when carrying out SEA, and best practice for ground rules that everyone should follow. Following this, crucially, what to do with the information you have gathered, which may be sensitive, in order to meet the goals that you want to achieve.