Despite Effort, Study Finds No Decline in Hospital Errors

A recent study in the New England Journal of Medicine finds that the rate of harmful accidents occurring in hospitals has not changed between 2002 and 2007. The study specifically references the number of patients suffering from medical errors, complications from diagnostic procedures, and infections acquired in a hospital setting. Researchers determined that methods that have been proven to improve health care have not been implemented on a national level, leading to careless mistakes.

The researchers examined 2,300 patient admission records from 10 randomly selected hospitals in North Carolina in order to make their conclusions. They discovered 588 instances of patient harm from complications considered preventable by officials at the hospitals studied. Limiting the number of consecutive hours that nurses and residents work and computerizing health records and drug prescriptions are included in these methods. A standardized checklist developed by John Hopkins to reduce patient infection is also proven to be effective.

Until these changes are made on a national level, safety measures should be taken by patients, the researchers stress. Although asking a doctor to double-check your medication may be uncomfortable, it’s a necessary step to preserve health.