WGU C489 SAT TASK 2: RCA AND FEMA | ACCURATE AND VERIFIED | 2026 UPDATE
Organizational Systems and Quality Leadership
SAT Task 2: RCA and FEMA
Alison Ulrich
Western Governors University
, Organizational Systems and Quality Leadership Task 2; SAT1-0517
A. Root Cause Analysis
Root Cause Analysis otherwise abbreviated to RCA is a process involving six steps which
health care professions use to help determine how and why errors occur. A root cause analysis is
helpful in identifying and understanding what caused the errors leading to patient harm, what
should have happened (or outcome) and how to prevent the same or similar event from
happening in the future.
A1. Root Cause Analysis Steps
Forming a team is the first step of completing a RCA. This team is generally made up of 4 to 6
interprofessional individuals at varying levels within the organization. Examples of individuals
on the team could be the patient or family member, clinical staff, administration leaders, quality
control leaders, risk management leaders, or anyone involved in the incident. Once the team is
assembled, specific roles are designated to each member such as team leader, advisor, and
recorder. Once all of that is in place, the RCA process can move forward.
Step two is the identification of the incident. This is where the gathering of information of what
occurred happens. For best results information should be as accurate and complete as possible.
Step three involves determining what outcome should have been. Once the team has identified
what occurred, they are able to move on to what would have happened had the appropriate
evidence-based procedure been followed.
Step four involves determining causes for incident. This involves both direct causes and
contributory factors.
Step five is the step where team develops casual statements. The casual statement involves the
cause, effect and event.
Organizational Systems and Quality Leadership
SAT Task 2: RCA and FEMA
Alison Ulrich
Western Governors University
, Organizational Systems and Quality Leadership Task 2; SAT1-0517
A. Root Cause Analysis
Root Cause Analysis otherwise abbreviated to RCA is a process involving six steps which
health care professions use to help determine how and why errors occur. A root cause analysis is
helpful in identifying and understanding what caused the errors leading to patient harm, what
should have happened (or outcome) and how to prevent the same or similar event from
happening in the future.
A1. Root Cause Analysis Steps
Forming a team is the first step of completing a RCA. This team is generally made up of 4 to 6
interprofessional individuals at varying levels within the organization. Examples of individuals
on the team could be the patient or family member, clinical staff, administration leaders, quality
control leaders, risk management leaders, or anyone involved in the incident. Once the team is
assembled, specific roles are designated to each member such as team leader, advisor, and
recorder. Once all of that is in place, the RCA process can move forward.
Step two is the identification of the incident. This is where the gathering of information of what
occurred happens. For best results information should be as accurate and complete as possible.
Step three involves determining what outcome should have been. Once the team has identified
what occurred, they are able to move on to what would have happened had the appropriate
evidence-based procedure been followed.
Step four involves determining causes for incident. This involves both direct causes and
contributory factors.
Step five is the step where team develops casual statements. The casual statement involves the
cause, effect and event.
