Medical Staff

Hospital errors rampant

Hospitalist Leadership Connection, April 12, 2011

Adverse events occur in one-third of hospitals, according to a new study published in HealthAffairs. The occurrence of hospital errors is 10 times higher than previously estimated using a new method developed by the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) compared to a previous method developed by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ).

Study researchers looked at 795 patient records and medical errors ranging from bedsores to objects left in the body during surgery to death, according to Reuters. Using the AHRQ quality indicator, researchers found 35 errors; using IHI’s method, they found 354 events.

Most Popular

Related Articles