In 2013, healthcare facilities reported 534 adverse events, so the 471 events reported last year represent a 12 percent decrease, according to a New Haven Register report.
“I think we’re starting to see the decrease we were hoping for, with all the work we’ve been doing,” Mary Cooper, MD, vice president and chief quality officer of the Connecticut Hospital Association told the Register. However, she added, “Our goal is zero preventable harm — not reducing these things by 10 percent. We need to keep going.”
Most of the reported medical errors occurred in acute care or children’s hospitals (415, or 88 percent), while chronic disease hospitals and hospitals for the mentally ill reported 43 errors. Just 13 medical errors were reported by outpatient surgical facilities.
The most-reported adverse events last year are as follows:
- Pressure ulcers: 245
- Falls resulting in death or serious injury: 78
- Perforations during open, laparoscopic and/or endoscopic procedures: 70
- Retention of foreign objects after surgery or other procedures: 24
Access the full report here.
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