The CANDOR process in healthcare is a structured approach to handling adverse events through timely event reporting, transparent communication, and coordinated resolution. In practice, it depends on how well teams can move from identifying an issue to documenting, disclosing, and resolving it, often within hours. Many organizations support CANDOR in principle. Execution is where it breaks down. What Is the CANDOR Process in Healthcare? CANDOR (Communication and Optimal Resolution) is a framework designed to guide healthcare organizations through adverse event disclosure and resolution. It emphasizes transparency with patients and families, while also supporting caregivers through a consistent, just process. At a high level, the CANDOR process includes: Identifying and reporting an adverse event. Communicating openly with patients and families. Investigating what happened. Resolving the situation, including follow-up actions. The goal is straightforward: improve patient safety while building trust. The challenge is making that process work reliably across teams, departments, and facilities. Why the CANDOR Process Breaks Down in Practice In real healthcare environments, coordination is often the issue. Consider a common scenario: an adverse event occurs, but event reporting in healthcare is delayed because staff are unsure what to document or fear blame. Risk management is looped in late. Communication with the patient is inconsistent because no one owns the process. These breakdowns often stem from: Fragmented reporting systems that slow down or discourage documentation. Unclear roles and ownership across clinical, risk, and legal teams. Inconsistent workflows, especially during the first 24 hours after an event. The result is variability. And variability makes it difficult to deliver consistent, transparent care. What Does the CANDOR Process Look Like in Real Workflows? Operationalizing the CANDOR process means turning principles into repeatable workflows. In practice, that typically involves four connected stages: 1. Event Reporting in Healthcare The process starts at the point of care. Frontline staff need simple, fast ways to submit a patient safety report without disrupting their workflow. When reporting is intuitive and accessible, organizations capture more accurate and timely data. 2. Structured Disclosure Adverse event disclosure is one of the most sensitive steps. It requires coordination across clinical, legal, and communication teams. Defined workflows help ensure the right people are involved, messaging is consistent, and timelines are met. 3. Resolution and Follow-Up The CANDOR process extends beyond the initial conversation. Follow-up care, internal reviews, and communication with patients all need to stay aligned. Without coordination, steps get duplicated or missed. 4. Documentation and Compliance Every step must be documented clearly. This includes timelines, actions taken, and communication records. Strong documentation supports compliance and reduces risk during audits or legal review. When these stages are disconnected, the process relies too heavily on individuals. When they’re connected, the process becomes consistent. How Technology Supports the CANDOR Process Technology plays a key role in making the CANDOR process reliable at scale. Instead of relying on emails, spreadsheets, or manual tracking, connected systems help standardize how work gets done. That includes: Guided workflows that define each step in the process. Automated task routing to ensure accountability across teams. Real-time visibility into the status of each adverse event. Centralized documentation for audit readiness. These capabilities reduce delays and remove ambiguity. More importantly, they allow organizations to respond to adverse events in a consistent way, regardless of location or team. This kind of consistency is critical for organizations operating across multiple facilities or service lines, where variations in process can create risk. How to Measure and Improve CANDOR Execution To improve the CANDOR process, organizations need visibility into how it’s actually working. Key metrics often include: Time from event to initial disclosure. Completion rates for patient safety reports. Documentation of follow-up actions. Variation in processes across departments. When these metrics are tracked consistently, leaders can identify where workflows are breaking down. For example, delays in disclosure may point to unclear ownership or gaps in communication protocols. Dashboards and reporting tools make these insights actionable. They help organizations move from reactive response to proactive improvement. This turns individual events into system-wide learning. Explore how to operationalize the CANDOR process with connected workflows. Download the CANDOR solution sheet to see how healthcare organizations standardize event reporting, disclosure, and resolution. Frequently Asked Questions What is the CANDOR process in healthcare? The CANDOR process is a framework for managing adverse events through event reporting, transparent communication, and coordinated resolution. Why is event reporting in healthcare critical to CANDOR? Event reporting is the first step. Without timely and accurate reporting, the rest of the process is delayed or incomplete. What challenges affect adverse event disclosure? Common challenges include unclear workflows, lack of coordination between teams, and inconsistent communication practices. How do communication and resolution programs improve patient safety? They create structured processes for handling adverse events, helping organizations respond consistently and learn from each incident. How can healthcare organizations improve the CANDOR process? By standardizing workflows, improving visibility into events, and connecting reporting, disclosure, and resolution processes through technology.