How fast must an incident be reported to DOH Abu Dhabi?

Staff report an incident within 24 hours of discovering it, and the facility notifies DOH of a sentinel event within 48 hours of becoming aware, then sends a root cause analysis and corrective action plan. The rules are in DOH's Incident Reporting and Management Standard, version 2, effective December 2024.

The timelines

The standard requires staff to report incidents within twenty-four hours from discovery, and facilities to notify DOH of a sentinel event within 48 hours of becoming aware. A root cause analysis and corrective action plan go to DOH, with amendments due within 15 calendar days when asked.¹

1. Report within 24 hours. Any staff member, on the facility's system.
2. Decide if it is sentinel. If so, DOH hears within 48 hours.
3. Reconstruct the sequence. From the record and its audit trail.
4. Find the cause. Why the system allowed it.
5. Act and report. The corrective plan to DOH, and amendments within 15 days.

1. Discovered on ______ Reported on ______
2. Sentinel ______ DOH notified on ______
3. Sequence of events, from the record ______
4. Root cause ______
5. Corrective action, owner and date ______

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Questions

How fast must staff report?

Within 24 hours of discovering the incident.

How fast must DOH hear of a sentinel event?

Within 48 hours of the facility becoming aware.

How does wai support an incident review?

wai gives your review the record and its audit trail, with who saw and changed what, and when, to the minute.

Sources

1. 1Department of Health Abu Dhabi, 2024Incident Reporting and Management Standard, version 2Read source
2. 2Department of Health Abu Dhabi, 2026PoliciesRead source

Written by the wai team from Department of Health Abu Dhabi guidance, checked on 15 October 2026. This is guidance, not legal advice. DOH does not endorse wai or any software.