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New survey finds U.S. leading in medical errors

Ambulatory Safety Monitor, December 22, 2005

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One-third of patients with health problems in the United States report experiencing medical, medication, or test errors, the highest of any nation, according to a Commonwealth Fund survey.

The survey assessed healthcare access, safety, and care coordination in Australia, Canada, Germany, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Although no one country measured best or worst overall, the United States stood out for high error rates, inefficient coordination of care, and high out-of-pocket costs, according to the report.

About one-third (34%) of the more than 1,500 adults surveyed in the United States reported at least one of four types of errors: a medical mistake in treatment or care, the wrong medicate or dose, incorrect test results, and delays in being notified about abnormal test results. Almost one-third (30%) of Canadians surveyed reported at least one of these errors, as did one-fifth or more of patients surveyed in Australia (27%), New Zealand (25%), Germany (23%), and the United Kingdom (22%).

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