With more error reporting processes in place perhaps some of the errors are now just coming to light with transparency. Other states have seen an increase as well. Also, one other item to note is the shortage of staff and funds which put increased strains on the facilities as well.
In a related article, Forbes is addressing the same issues. "The mistakes aren't exactly minor, either. Between 40,000 and 100,000 people die every year because of shoddy handiwork, including surgical mishaps and drug mix-ups."
The best defense is to hopefully not get sick..and starting in October Medicare and many insurers will not pay for many of these mistakes. Clinicians today are way over worked with patient case loads and the reviewing of all the information that comes with each patient as well. BD
"Doctors and nurses spend insufficient time with each patient," says Evan Falchuk, president of Boston-based Best Doctors, which works with insurers and employers to help the very sick navigate the health care system. "Many doctors are seeing between 30 and 40 patients per day."
Indiana hospitals and surgery centers committed 105 serious and preventable errors in 2007 -- a nearly 24 percent increase from last year, according to a state report released Monday. Like last year, the most common mistake, which accounted for 27 errors, related to hospitals allowing patients to develop advanced bed sores. The No. 2 error, with 24 occurrences, was an object such as a sponge being left in a patient after surgery, according to the 2007 Medical Error Reporting System report.
Cases involving surgery on the wrong body part jumped from 11 reported errors for 2006 to 23 in 2007, making it the third-most common mistake. The Indiana State Department of Health said one reason for the hike in error reports was the increased awareness among health providers to track and report their mistakes. The state's hospitals and surgery centers disclosed 85 errors for 2006 in last year's inaugural report.
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