Here are 30 statistics on the top 10 most expensive types of medical errors in the United States, according to a June 2010 study conducted for the Society of Actuaries. The study, titled "The Economic Measurement of Medical Errors," used claims data from 2008.
1. Pressure ulcers
Number of errors: 374,964
Cost per error: $10,288
Total cost: $3.858 billion
2. Postoperative infections
Number of errors: 252,695
Cost per error: $14,548
Total cost: $3.676 billion
3. Mechanical complication of a device, implant or graft
Number of errors: 60,380
Cost per error: $18,771
Total cost: $1.133 billion
4. Postlaminectomy syndrome
Number of errors: 113,823
Cost per error: $9,863
Total cost: $1.123 billion
5. Hemorrhage complicating a procedure
Number of errors: 78,216
Cost per error: $12,272
Total cost: $960 million
6. Infection following infusion, injection, transfusion, vaccination
Number of errors: 8,855
Cost per error: $78,083
Total cost: $691 million
7. Pneumothorax
Number of errors: 25,559
Cost per error: $24,132
Total cost: $617 million
8. Infection due to central venous catheter
Number of errors: 7,062 errors
Cost per error: $83,365
Total cost: $589 million
9. Other complications of internal (biological) (synthetic) prosthetic device, implant and graft
Number of errors: 26,783 errors
Cost per error: $17,233
Total cost: $462 million
10. Ventral hernia without mention of obstruction or gangrene
Number of errors: 53,810
Cost per error: $8,178
Total cost: 440 million
Read "The Economic Measurement of Medical Errors."
1. Pressure ulcers
Number of errors: 374,964
Cost per error: $10,288
Total cost: $3.858 billion
2. Postoperative infections
Number of errors: 252,695
Cost per error: $14,548
Total cost: $3.676 billion
3. Mechanical complication of a device, implant or graft
Number of errors: 60,380
Cost per error: $18,771
Total cost: $1.133 billion
4. Postlaminectomy syndrome
Number of errors: 113,823
Cost per error: $9,863
Total cost: $1.123 billion
5. Hemorrhage complicating a procedure
Number of errors: 78,216
Cost per error: $12,272
Total cost: $960 million
6. Infection following infusion, injection, transfusion, vaccination
Number of errors: 8,855
Cost per error: $78,083
Total cost: $691 million
7. Pneumothorax
Number of errors: 25,559
Cost per error: $24,132
Total cost: $617 million
8. Infection due to central venous catheter
Number of errors: 7,062 errors
Cost per error: $83,365
Total cost: $589 million
9. Other complications of internal (biological) (synthetic) prosthetic device, implant and graft
Number of errors: 26,783 errors
Cost per error: $17,233
Total cost: $462 million
10. Ventral hernia without mention of obstruction or gangrene
Number of errors: 53,810
Cost per error: $8,178
Total cost: 440 million
Read "The Economic Measurement of Medical Errors."