Almost 10 Years Later, We're Still Losing Ground on Medical Mistakes
In 1999, the Institute of Medicine, a highly respected public-private, non-political, research-based, health and healthcare think tank in Washington, DC issued a report on research it had done called, To Err is Human. The research had explored the numbers of medical errors that took place in the United States, and they reported that somewhere between 44,000 and 98,000 Americans DIE each year from mistakes made by their providers.
That's DIE. That doesn't even account for those people who are injured and possibly debilitated for life -- at the hands of the very people who have taken an oath, and whose job it is, to help improve their health, life and limb.
The idea behind the report was to bring awareness, so providers and provider-organizations would begin looking at ways to decrease those horrible numbers..... however.... Fast-forward these 10 years and the numbers have not decreased at all. In fact, today more than 100,000 people per year die from hospital-acquired infections alone. That doesn't even account for other ways people are hurt or killed by providers and the system, like surgical errors, or addicted doctors or even my own personal experience, misdiagnosis.
Put another way, since the original report, well more than one million, that's 1,000,000 people! have died, and tens of millions have been injured by the medical system in the United States. It's unfathomable, and it's unforgivable.
Consumer's Union's Safe Patient Project is holding a forum later this month, to review theses more horrible statistics, their causes, potential for improvement and more, and you are invited to attend. Although the forum will be held in Washington, DC, it will also be webcast so anyone who is interested may listen and watch the procedings. Called To Err Is Human, To Delay Is Deadly, it will be held November 17, 2009 from 10am-3:30pm EST.
The speaker list is like a who's who in the world of public safety. From professionals who deal with public safety issues daily, to the loved ones of people who have been lost to medical mistakes, they'll be there discussing the report, and the 10-year report card.
You'll need to register to attend the forum by web, or you can get more information about attending in person if you're so inclined. I'll be online with my ears open all that day. Won't you join us, too?
In the meantime, you can read more about the 10 year report To Delay is Deadly.
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We must remember that the IOM estimate of deaths from medical errors was very conservative. It did not include errors of omission, nor did it include errors that were lethal in outpatients. Lethal errors of omission are probably greater than lethal errors of comission. For example, millions died early because they did not receive beta blockers, which were shown to be highly effective in heart-failure patients in 1982. This is a catastrophic error of omission.
You really should take the time to research the 98,000 number. The Institute of medicine used two Harvard studies. The first was in 1991 and actually studied data from 1984 using New York hospital data. We won’t get into the data/formula errors, but the study estimated that “in 1984 there were 98,609 adverse events”. Then in 1992, practically the same group of investigators, conducted another study using 1992 data from Colorado and Utah. In this study the investigators estimated that there were 44,000.
Here’s what’s interesting. Let’s say, based on the Harvard Study estimates, in 1984 there were 98,000 deaths. Then, let’s say the next Harvard Study estimates, in 1992 there were 44,000 deaths. That’s more than a 50% decrease in 12 years.
Therefore, can we predict the number has continued to decrease based on implementation of quality and safety measures? Instead, we get there are an average of 44,000 to 98,000 deaths due to medical errors. They don’t even account for the adverse reactions.
I’m not trying to say that medical errors don’t happen. They obviously do and we should do everything we can to prevent them.
I’m also not twisting numbers to make them fit my cause. These number are facts that you can find with a little research. Twisting numbers to scare the average citizen is also a practice we should do everything we can to prevent!!!
Jeff,
You have SO missed the point on this post. The real point is to inform readers of an opportunity to arm themselves with knowledge and tools to keep themselves safe.
You insult me by suggesting I have twisted numbers to scare average citizens. As for your numbers — you don’t seem to have done YOUR research. The numbers now are far higher than they ever were. In fact, according to the CDC, at least 99,000 Americans die annually from infections alone, most of which could have been prevented. That doesn’t begin to account for any of the never events defined by the National Quality Forum.
But the real point is, this post is not about numbers anyway. It’s a statement of fact (that errors occur and are increasing) and it’s an invitation to learn more about patient safety. To trivialize the need for protecting ourselves by arguing numbers is to trivialize the problem and the invitation.
How many loved ones have you lost to infections?
Trisha,
I was actually referring to the press when I was speaking about “twisiting numbers” but if the shoe fits, wear it.
In fact, here’s a good example of twisting numbers.
Your original blog statement “more than 100,000 people per year die from hospital-acquired infections alone”
And now you change it to ” 99,000 Americans die annually from infections.” Fact is the study itself states that the number is an estimate for 2002. It doesn’t say that each year it happens. It is too bad that the CDC misrepresents the study.
Study quote, “We estimate that 1.7 million HAIs occurred in U.S. hospitals in 2002 and were associated with approximately 99,000 deaths.”
But, your point matches one of my original comments. I said “I’m not trying to say that medical errors don’t happen. They obviously do and we should do everything we can to prevent them. ” I think you’d agree with that statement.
Sounds like your “every patient’s advocate”, but not Jeff’s.
I kind of regret taking interest in your blog. Don’t worry, I won’t be back.