Root cause analysis

How it is used

Shortened to RCA. Teams carry out an RCA, often with tools such as the '5 Whys' or a fishbone diagram, and produce an action plan. Some systems now use broader review methods, but RCA is still the best-known term.

Example sentences

1. The root cause analysis showed that the two drugs were stored side by side in identical boxes.

2. We aim to complete a root cause analysis within two months of any serious incident.

Common collocations

• conduct a root cause analysis
• root cause analysis report
• RCA findings
• identify the root cause

Related terms

• adverse eventAn unintended event during healthcare that harms a patient and is caused by the care given rather than by the patient's illness.
• incident reportA written record of an event that harmed, or could have harmed, a patient, visitor or member of staff, sent so that it can be investigated and learned from.
• never eventA very serious and largely preventable patient safety incident, such as surgery on the wrong body part, that should not happen if proper safety measures are followed.
• safety cultureThe shared attitudes, beliefs and habits in an organisation that decide how openly people report errors, speak up about risks and learn from mistakes.

This word in other fields

The same English word can have a different meaning in another field:

• root cause analysis · Mechanical Engineering
• root cause analysis · Industrial Engineering & Manufacturing

More terms: Patient Safety and Risk

• patient safety
• near miss
• medication error
• hospital-acquired infection
• informed consent
• risk assessment