The Joint Commission’s latest Sentinel Event Alert targets an issue that has been oft-discussed in recent years: healthcare worker fatigue and patient safety.

Many studies have shown not only that extended work hours not only lead to worker fatigue, and from there, a loss of productivity–they also increase the opportunity for adverse events. The Joint Commission’s Sentinel Event Alert specifically addresses one cause of worker fatigue, extended work days and the cumulative effect of extended work hours.

The Sentinel Event Alert does acknowledge other potential causes for worker fatigue such as insufficient staffing, but targets this one trouble area for discussion.

For more information, visit The Joint Commission’s website.

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