CMS Will Work to Make Hospitals Track Errors Better Internally But Information Will Be Kept From The Public
A new study released today by the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) found that hospital employees are only reporting fourteen percent of all medical errors and usually don't change their practices to prevent future harm to patients.
The study was based on an independent review of patient records. Federal regulations require hospitals to track all medical errors and adverse events that harm patients and to implement preventive measures to protect patients. Only five of the 293 reported cases of medical errors reviewed by federal investigators led to changes in policies or practices by hospitals to prevent harm to patients.
"One in four hospital patients are harmed by medical errors and infections, which translates to about 9 million people each year," said Lisa McGiffert, Director of Consumers Union's Safe Patient Project. "Today's report confirms what many other studies have already documented. Too many hospitals are doing a poor job of tracking preventable infections and medical errors and making the changes necessary to keep patients safe. It's time that hospitals make patient safety a higher priority."