Source:
Hospital Topics, Volume 81, Number 3, p.p5 - 12 (2003)
URL:
http://search.ebscohost.com.liboff.ohsu.edu/login.aspx?direct=true&db=aph&AN=13269117&site=ehost-live
Keywords:
MEDICAL errors;
MEDICAL personnel -- Malpractice;
MEDICINE -- Practice;
MEDICAL care;
MEDICAL students;
INFORMATION technology;
UNITED States;
adverse events;
iatrogenic effects;
medical errors;
medical mistakes;
medical negligence
Abstract:
Medical errors cause up to 98,000 people to die annually in the United States. They are the fifth leading cause of death and cost the United States $29 billion annually (Kohn 1999). Medical errors fall into 4 main categories: diagnostic, treatment, preventative, and other. A review of literature reveals several proposed solutions to the medical error problem. One solution is to change the system for reporting medical errors. This would allow for the tracking of errors and provide information on potential problematic areas. A National Center for Patient Safety is proposed, which would set national goals towards medical errors. Another solution is the setting of performance standards among individual entities of healthcare delivery, such as hospitals and clinics. Another solution involves implementing a culture of safety among healthcare organizations. This would put the responsibility of safety on everyone in the organization. A change in education is yet another proposed solution. Inf
