Running head: Organizational Systems and Quality Leadership Task 2 1
SAT 1 Task 2 RCA and FMEA
Western Governors University
Explain the general purpose of conducting a root cause analysis (RCA).
, Task 2 RCA and FMEA 2
A root cause analysis is a process that directs improvement and learning from errors. The
health sector should always look for ways to improve processes and learn from errors. Varied
tools have been used and developed to assist with processing data so that meaningful changes
can be made and evaluated to determine if the outcomes intended were achieved. A tool that is
frequently used is the root cause analysis (RCA). This is an organized way to investigate an
event by gathering as much data as possible about the event so that a clear understanding of the
situation, and the factors that contributed to the event can be analyzed. Root cause analysis won’t
work if people fear it.
A1. Explain each of the six steps used to conduct an RCA, as defined by IHI.
The root cause analysis is a standardized process to understand causative agent of an
adverse event or situation. This is not a process that is designed to find fault and punish, but it’s a
process that in fact, improves and diminishes the chances that a problem will occur the same way
it did the first time, or better still get rid of the problem all together and figure out better ways to
do events so that chances of getting adverse outcomes are reduced. RCA are normally created
after there is an incident that needs address, complaints from patients, family members and staff,
a near miss, medication errors and events like nosocomial infections investigation. Root cause
analysis are conducted by the interdisciplinary team involved in the care of a patient or directly
involved in an event.
The first step in the process is to identify what happened, this involves a thorough
scrutiny of the events that led to the scenario, this calls for analyzing data, information, medical
records, charts, some institutions have surveillance cameras. The people involved in the events
should not be involved in the process of data collection. Step two determines what should have
been done and step three determines the causes of step two. Step three involves asking why 5
SAT 1 Task 2 RCA and FMEA
Western Governors University
Explain the general purpose of conducting a root cause analysis (RCA).
, Task 2 RCA and FMEA 2
A root cause analysis is a process that directs improvement and learning from errors. The
health sector should always look for ways to improve processes and learn from errors. Varied
tools have been used and developed to assist with processing data so that meaningful changes
can be made and evaluated to determine if the outcomes intended were achieved. A tool that is
frequently used is the root cause analysis (RCA). This is an organized way to investigate an
event by gathering as much data as possible about the event so that a clear understanding of the
situation, and the factors that contributed to the event can be analyzed. Root cause analysis won’t
work if people fear it.
A1. Explain each of the six steps used to conduct an RCA, as defined by IHI.
The root cause analysis is a standardized process to understand causative agent of an
adverse event or situation. This is not a process that is designed to find fault and punish, but it’s a
process that in fact, improves and diminishes the chances that a problem will occur the same way
it did the first time, or better still get rid of the problem all together and figure out better ways to
do events so that chances of getting adverse outcomes are reduced. RCA are normally created
after there is an incident that needs address, complaints from patients, family members and staff,
a near miss, medication errors and events like nosocomial infections investigation. Root cause
analysis are conducted by the interdisciplinary team involved in the care of a patient or directly
involved in an event.
The first step in the process is to identify what happened, this involves a thorough
scrutiny of the events that led to the scenario, this calls for analyzing data, information, medical
records, charts, some institutions have surveillance cameras. The people involved in the events
should not be involved in the process of data collection. Step two determines what should have
been done and step three determines the causes of step two. Step three involves asking why 5
