What is an example of an incident that would be reported to a regulatory agency?

A significant patient harm incident is an example of an event that would be reported to a regulatory agency due to the seriousness of the situation. Such incidents typically involve adverse events that compromise patient safety or lead to significant harm, necessitating regulatory oversight and investigation. Reporting these occurrences helps ensure accountability, allows for the identification of patterns or systemic issues, and fosters improvements in patient care practices to prevent recurrence.

In contrast, incidents like a minor equipment malfunction are generally handled internally, and complaints about response times may not directly relate to patient safety. A successful patient outcome is a positive event that does not require reporting to regulatory bodies. Each of those scenarios relates to different levels of risk and impact on patient care, making the significant patient harm incident the primary concern for regulatory agencies focused on maintaining high standards of patient safety and quality of care.