Reporting Critical Incidents
Mandatory reporting of critical incidents
Health System Governance and Accountability Act (see Part 4.1 Patient Safety) outlines requirements for the reporting and investigation of critical incidents occurring during the provision of health care by a health authority, health corporation or prescribed health care organization.
What to do if you think a critical incident has occurred
Anybody can report a critical incident, including patients, family members or health care providers. If you believe a critical incident may have occurred, contact your health care provider or health authority to report the incident.
If deemed a critical incident, the health facility or health authority is required to report it to the department and investigate the incident, in compliance with provincial legislation, to learn what happened and to recommend changes to prevent similar incidents from happening again. They are also required to disclose the incident to the patient or family.
