Which of the following is a lagging indicator?

• A. Number of safety observations.
• B. Time since last regulatory inspection.
• C. Incident rate.
• D. Patient satisfaction score.

Answer: (C)

Lagging indicators tell you what has already happened by measuring outcomes from the past. The incident rate does exactly that: it counts safety incidents that occurred during a defined period, giving a retrospective view of safety performance. It reflects past conditions and results rather than predicting future events.

In contrast, the number of safety observations is a leading indicator because it measures proactive safety activities intended to prevent incidents. Time since the last regulatory inspection speaks to compliance timing rather than actual safety outcomes, and a patient satisfaction score reflects overall perceived service quality rather than a direct safety event.