The Slim Book of Health Pearls: The Prevention of Medical Errors

By Sheldon Cohen M.D. FACP

A medical error occurs when a healthcare provider chooses an improper method of care, or inappropriately executes a correct method of care. Medical errors result in death and disability.

More often than not, the medical error results from a system failure, a lack of coordination amongst those responsible for delivering patient care.

The Institute of Medicine estimates between 44,000 to 98,000 deaths per year result from medical errors.

• Language: English
• Publisher: eBookIt.com
• Release date: Apr 26, 2016
• ISBN: 9781456607487

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Introduction

Es Irrt Der Mensch, So Lang Er Strebt

(As long as human beings strive, they will make errors)

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

(1749-1832)

A medical error has occurred anytime a healthcare provider plans a medical action and it does not succeed as intended, or the wrong plan is used. These errors can include problems in medical practice, failure to diagnose, procedural problems, system failures, or product deficiencies.

Ninety-eight thousand people per year die from medical errors, a number that represents more deaths than occur from automobile accidents or breast cancer. This statistic, published by the Institute of Medicine in 1999, has prompted efforts by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations to focus the accreditation process on operational systems critical to the safety and quality of patient care.

What is the Institute of Medicine? Who are its members? Are they a governmental organization? What is the funding source?

The federal government created the National Academy of Sciences to serve as an advisor on scientific matters. However, the Academy and its associated organization (e.g. the Institute of Medicine) is a private, non-governmental organization that does not receive direct federal appropriations for their work. The Institute of Medicine’s charter establishes it as an independent body. They use unpaid volunteer experts who author their reports, each of which undergoes a rigorous and formal peer review process that must be evidence-based where possible, or noted as an expert opinion where not possible. Many meetings of the Institute of Medicine are open to the public, or the committee may deliberate amongst themselves until they reach consensus. Any potential conflict of interest could disqualify a committee member.

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