Health officials announce physician quiz campaign to help reduce medical errors

HHS and other health officials on Monday announced a new campaign designed to limit surgical complications by encouraging patients to quiz their doctors about medical procedures, CQ HealthBeat reports.

The campaign, which is part of the Surgical Care Improvement Project, aims to reduce surgical complications by 25% by 2010.

The campaign features a tip sheet that advises patients on how they can lower their surgical risks by talking with a member of their surgical team, including their doctor, nurse or anesthesiologist.

The tip sheet includes advice on asking questions about antibiotic use and hair removal to avoid infections, as well as about blood clots, hand washing and other medications.

According to the tip sheet, patients should "speak up" if they have questions or concerns about a procedure. AARP and the National Partnership for Women and Families will distribute the tip sheets.

Carolyn Clancy, director of HHS' Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, said, "Patients need to take an active role in their health care, especially when it comes to having surgery.

They need to be well-informed and ask lots of questions, and the materials developed by SCIP will help them know where to get information and what to ask."

Mark Lema, president-elect of the American Hospital Association, said, "We will encourage patients to use this tip sheet to talk to their caregivers about the care that's right for them."

Thomas Russell, executive director of the American College of Surgeons, said, SCIP "is about bringing all the members of the surgical team together and implementing known measures, which will decrease adverse events that are preventable and no longer acceptable" (Reichard, CQ HealthBeat, 10/23).