The Joint Commission provides guidance to healthcare facilities on proper policies and procedures that should be in place to help guide decision making. Review the information in regards to Sentinel Events as defined by The Joint Commission and apply it to the following case:

Patient Thomas leaves the emergency department against medical advice and two days later commits suicide

• Explain your reasoning on whether or not this occurrence would warrant a sentinel event to be documented
• Describe next steps the facility should take and the information that will need to be documented if necessary
• Do you feel the Joint Commission could improve their guidance to healthcare facilities? Why or why not?

http://www.jointcommission.org/assets/1/6/CAMH_24_SE_all_CURRENT.pdf

1 page, approx 200 words