A large study of patients and their families sought feedback on health care harm. The findings could help with keeping patients safe in the hospital.
Safe Patient Project:
The Safe Patient Project sponsored by Consumers Union recruited patients online. They answered questions about surgical procedures gone awry, healthcare acquired infections and problems with medications including overdoses and inappropriate medicines.
Common Hazards:
Misdiagnosis was the most commonly reported problem, occurring in nearly one-third of the reports. It was followed by surgical complications, affecting almost one-fourth of respondents. Drug complications were the fourth leading cause of complaints.
Better Communication Helps with Keeping Patients Safe in the Hospital:
The analysis noted that a perceived lack of accountability and poor communication on the part of health care providers and health care systems contributed to the these harms. The consequences included a lack of trust as well as profound suffering-financial, emotional and physical.
