What type of analysis helps address quality and safety by identifying process failures?

Root Cause Analysis (RCA) is specifically designed to identify the underlying causes of process failures, particularly within the contexts of quality and safety in healthcare. This analytical method systematically investigates issues to determine the fundamental reasons behind events, such as adverse patient outcomes or safety incidents.

Through RCA, healthcare organizations can delve deeply into incidents that compromise quality and safety. The process usually involves collecting data surrounding an event, analyzing the sequence of events leading to the failure, and identifying any contributing factors. By understanding the root causes, organizations are better equipped to implement effective interventions and preventive measures, ultimately enhancing the overall quality of care and patient safety.

While other types of analysis can contribute to understanding quality and safety, they don't specifically focus on identifying the root causes of failures as effectively as RCA does. For instance, statistical analysis may help in measuring quality outcomes but does not inherently provide insights into why failures occur. Descriptive analysis offers summaries of data but lacks the depth needed to pinpoint root causes. Cohort analysis might examine groups over time but doesn't specifically target the investigation of failures in processes. Thus, RCA stands out as the most appropriate choice for addressing quality and safety through the identification of process failures.