The goal of RCA2 is to increase safety in the long term and not allow a similar event to occur, so the actions taken to address root causes need to be carefully considered. Solutions that address human error directly — such as training — are generally weaker solutions. Solutions that address the system are much stronger, though they can often be more challenging to engineer. Use this tool to determine the strength of actions your team may recommend.
The National Patient Safety Foundation credits the VA National Center for Patient Safety for the original work on the action categories in this hierarchy.