The Disclosure Part 3

Make arrangements to communicate with the patient and family as soon as possible when an adverse event occurs. Do not delay; timely communication is important. Often, the patient and/or family needs to be informed about the situation before all facts are known. Communicate what you know in layman’s terms. It is appropriate to acknowledge you don’t have all the information about what happened at the present time; be sure to tell them you will communicate with them once the facts have been determined.

Any equipment or medical devices believed to have contributed to the event should be taken out of service and sequestered for investigation.