Procedural sedation and implications for quality and risk management

A successful procedural sedation program requires a robust institutional policy backed by a solid educational program and an administrative structure. Given the nature of the services provided, combined with the growth in complexity of both patients and procedures, sedation presents a potential liability for both the provider and the institution. A sedation program is built with a multidisciplinary team of experts representing all stakeholders: healthcare providers, risk and quality improvement managers, and facility administration. An institutional procedural sedation policy should be based on nationally and state recognized practice requirements and guidelines. Clinical care must be supported with a robust risk and quality structure built within the program to ensure best practice at the point of care.