What term describes an unexpected occurrence that harms a patient while receiving health care services?

The term "incident" is used to describe an unexpected occurrence that results in harm to a patient while they are receiving healthcare services. This term is commonly used in healthcare and risk management contexts to identify and classify events that may compromise patient safety. It emphasizes the aspect of being unexpected and often highlights the need for investigation and analysis to prevent future occurrences.

In a healthcare setting, incidents can lead to significant consequences for patients, staff, and the institution as a whole, which is why they must be reported and analyzed thoroughly. Understanding incidents allows healthcare administrators and professionals to implement corrective actions and improve safety protocols to enhance overall care quality.

While terms like "accident," "event," and "occurrence" may seem relevant, they do not capture the specific connotation associated with the healthcare context or the emphasis on harm from unexpected situations as precisely as "incident" does. For example, "accident" can imply an unavoidable mishap rather than an actionable occurrence needing review, and "event" or "occurrence" are more neutral terms that lack the implication of harm necessitated by the situation.