The report, “Adverse Health Events in Minnesota,” includes data reported by 65 hospitals and six ASCs in Minnesota. The facilities reported a total of 312 adverse events from Oct. 7, 2011 to Oct. 6, 2012, an average of 26.1 events per month. Eighty percent of the adverse events involved hospital inpatients, 16 percent were in ASCs and 4 percent occurred in the emergency department or other location in the hospital or ASC.
Of the adverse events in 2012, 89, or 28 percent, resulted in serious disability and 14 events, or 4 percent, resulted in a patient’s death. In comparison, in 2011 there were 84 serious injuries and five deaths due to adverse events. The increase in injury and harm resulting from adverse events in 2012 is primarily due to an increase in patient falls, but suicides and elopements also increased, according to the report.
However, Minnesota hospitals and ASCs did have some successes. In 2012, the total number of pressure ulcers decreased 8 percent, retained foreign objects decreased 16 percent and medication errors decreased 75 percent from 2011.
More Articles on Patient Safety:
Looking Beyond the 4 Walls of the Hospital to Reduce Readmissions: The Value of Post-Acute Care Hospitalists
New York Proposes New Sepsis Protocols
Study: No High Readmissions for Early-Discharge Colorectal Surgery Patients With Enhanced Recovery Pathway
At the Becker's 11th Annual IT + Revenue Cycle Conference: The Future of AI & Digital Health, taking place September 14–17 in Chicago, healthcare executives and digital leaders from across the country will come together to explore how AI, interoperability, cybersecurity, and revenue cycle innovation are transforming care delivery, strengthening financial performance, and driving the next era of digital health. Apply for complimentary registration now.