Type of Prevention
Sarah, a 30-year-old woman, receives her annual flu vaccination at her workplace health clinic. She hasn’t been sick this year, but she wants to reduce her risk of getting the flu.
Primary-Vaccinations are a form of primary prevention because they aim to prevent disease before it occurs. By receiving the flu vaccine, Sarah is reducing her risk of contracting the flu, preventing illness before exposure to the virus.
A group of friends in their 20s participate in a free educational workshop about the benefits of regular physical activity and healthy eating to prevent obesity, diabetes, and heart disease.
Primary Prevention - The educational workshop about physical activity and healthy eating aims to prevent chronic conditions like obesity, diabetes, and heart disease from developing, which is the focus of primary prevention.
A patient with advanced heart failure decides to stop aggressive treatments and receives care focused on managing pain and ensuring a peaceful end-of-life experience.
Hospice Care - Hospice care is intended for patients who choose to focus on comfort and quality of life rather than curative treatments.
A senior with mild mobility issues and some difficulty managing daily tasks such as cooking and bathing moves into a community where assistance is provided but the individual retains independence.
Assisted Living - Assisted living provides support with daily activities, while residents still live relatively independently in a community setting.
A patient admitted for routine knee replacement surgery receives a fatal dose of the wrong medication due to a pharmacy mix-up.
This is a sentinel event because it involves the death of a patient due to a medication error, which meets The Joint Commission’s criteria for a sentinel event (death due to an adverse event).
James, a 50-year-old man with no prior history of heart problems, undergoes a cholesterol check during his annual physical to assess his risk of developing cardiovascular disease.
Secondary Prevention
Checking cholesterol levels is a form of secondary prevention because it helps identify people at risk for cardiovascular disease before they show symptoms, allowing for early intervention.
Maria, a 45-year-old woman with no symptoms, undergoes a mammogram as part of her routine screening for breast cancer. The goal is to detect any signs of cancer early before symptoms appear.
Secondary Prevention - Mammograms are a form of secondary prevention because they involve screening for breast cancer before symptoms appear. Early detection allows for early treatment, which can prevent the disease from progressing.
A 78-year-old woman chooses to move into a facility where she can receive assistance with bathing and dressing, but she can still come and go as she pleases.
Assisted Living - Assisted living helps residents maintain independence while providing support for activities of daily living (ADLs).
A 52-year-old man with advanced kidney disease receives care to manage his pain and symptoms while continuing dialysis.
Palliative Care - works alongside curative treatments to enhance comfort and manage symptoms for patients with chronic illnesses.
A patient undergoes surgery intended for another patient due to confusion during the admission process, resulting in unnecessary surgery.
Sentinel Event - Performing surgery on the wrong patient is a sentinel event as it represents a major breach of patient safety and care verification processes. It indicates failures in patient identification and pre-surgical communication that could lead to serious harm.
Lisa, a 40-year-old woman with rheumatoid arthritis, is receiving medication and physical therapy to manage her symptoms, reduce pain, and prevent joint deformities, allowing her to maintain her quality of life.
Tertiary Prevention - Managing rheumatoid arthritis with medication and therapy is an example of tertiary prevention because it focuses on reducing the impact of the disease and preventing long-term joint damage.
During a community health fair, free sunscreen samples are distributed, and attendees are educated on the importance of using sun protection to reduce the risk of skin cancer.
Primary Prevention - Distributing sunscreen and educating about sun protection is a primary prevention measure because it helps reduce the risk of skin cancer before any damage occurs from sun exposure.
A 65-year-old patient who requires ventilator support after a severe lung infection stays in this setting for extended medical care and rehabilitation.
Long-Term Care Hospital - Long-term care hospitals provide specialized, ongoing treatment for patients with serious medical conditions that require extended stays.
A patient with high blood pressure meets with their doctor regularly to monitor their condition and adjust medications to maintain healthy blood pressure levels.
Primary Care - Managing chronic diseases like hypertension is a key function of primary care providers, ensuring early intervention and treatment adjustments.
A fire in a hospital wing leads to the evacuation of patients. No one is injured, and all patients are safely transferred to other units.
Not a sentinel event - Although a fire leading to an evacuation is a serious incident, no patients were harmed, and there was no adverse outcome related to care, so it does not meet the sentinel event criteria.
Works to reduce the impact of an existing disease or condition, helping patients manage long-term effects and prevent complications (e.g., rehabilitation, chronic disease management).
Tertiary Prevention
Helping patients manage long-term effects and prevent complications
Tertiary Prevention
Works to reduce the impact of an existing disease or condition, helping patients manage long-term effects and prevent complications (e.g., rehabilitation, chronic disease management).
A patient with heart failure receives care to manage their symptoms and improve their comfort while still being treated with medication and therapies aimed at controlling the disease.
Palliative Care - focuses on symptom relief and improving comfort without stopping treatment for the underlying disease.
Mrs. Lopez cares for her husband, who has had a stroke and requires constant supervision. Three times a week, she brings him to a local place, where he participates in activities, receives meals, and gets help with mobility, while she runs errands and takes personal time.
Respite care - Adult day care centers offer respite care during the day, allowing caregivers to work or attend to daily responsibilities while patients receive supervised care.
A psychiatric inpatient commits suicide by hanging using a bedsheet, despite being on a suicide watch protocol.
Sentinel Event - Patient suicides, particularly those of psychiatric inpatients, are classified as sentinel events, especially when they occur in a setting that should have had suicide prevention protocols in place.
Early detection and prompt treatment of disease to prevent progression
Secondary Prevention - aims at early detection and prompt treatment of disease to prevent progression (e.g., screenings, regular health checks).
Mark, a 55-year-old man with diabetes, attends a diabetes management program where he learns how to monitor his blood sugar levels, adjust his diet, and prevent complications like foot ulcers and kidney disease.
Tertiary Care - Diabetes management programs help individuals manage their condition, prevent complications, and improve quality of life, which is the focus of tertiary prevention.
This type of care involves routine health check-ups, disease prevention, and management of chronic conditions. Your family doctor or nurse practitioner provides it, and it is often the first point of contact for medical issues.
Primary Care
Primary care providers manage general health concerns, offer preventive services like vaccines, and coordinate referrals to specialists when needed.
A 72-year-old man with advanced liver cancer chooses this type of care to focus on pain management and emotional support, knowing that his illness is no longer curable.
Hospice Care - Hospice care is for patients who have decided to prioritize comfort over aggressive treatments, focusing on symptom management and quality of life.
A healthy 32-year-old woman dies from postpartum hemorrhage following childbirth due to delayed recognition and intervention by the healthcare team.
Sentinel Event - Maternal deaths during or after labor and delivery are sentinel events because they often involve preventable factors, such as delayed treatment or inadequate monitoring. These events point to systemic issues in maternal care protocols and staff responsiveness.