What defines an adverse event in patient care?

An adverse event in patient care is best defined as an injury resulting from medical management rather than the patient’s underlying condition. This captures situations where patients experience harm due to the care they receive, including potential errors or complications that arise from medical interventions, procedures, or treatments. Importantly, this definition underscores that the adverse event is linked to the healthcare process rather than the natural progression of a disease or the patient’s previous health status.

In contrast, an injury caused by medication error focuses specifically on a type of adverse event rather than the broader definition. Similarly, events that are expected based on diagnosis are part of the disease process and not viewed as adverse events; they represent anticipated clinical outcomes rather than harmful incidents incurred through medical management. Lastly, an incident leading to patient satisfaction would not characterize an adverse event, since satisfaction usually indicates a positive experience and not a negative outcome related to care.