A new report emphasizes the urgent need to address patient safety as a national priority, asserting that preventable medical errors are likely the third leading cause of death in the United States. The report, released by a presidential panel called the Working Group on Patient Safety, recommends key actions to tackle “never” events, enhance transparency and data utilization, advance research, and appoint a national patient safety coordinator.
According to a 2016 study from Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, preventable medical errors result in 250,000 deaths annually in the U.S. This number is believed to persist, if not increase, during periods of healthcare system strain such as the spikes in the pandemic. The report aims to elevate patient safety to the top of the national agenda.
Key recommendations include establishing federal leadership for patient safety, ensuring evidence-based approaches to prevent harm, engaging with disproportionately affected communities, and accelerating the development and deployment of new technologies.
The report emphasizes a shift from blaming individuals to building better healthcare systems, drawing parallels with the aviation industry’s success in creating highly reliable systems. Dr. Harlan Krumholz, a member of the working group, highlights the need for a reset in medicine, implementing initiatives to ensure the safety of everyone seeking healthcare.
The focus on health equity is stressed, acknowledging that medical errors disproportionately affect people of color. The report proposes measures to close gaps in patient outcomes based on ethnicity or skin color.
A notable recommendation is the requirement for hospitals to disclose their rates of preventable infections individually, rather than providing a consolidated figure for hospital systems. This move aims to provide more accurate and relevant information for patients.
Leah Binder, President and CEO of The Leapfrog Group, applauds the report for placing patients and their families at the center of the patient safety discussion. The creation of a national patient safety team is seen as crucial to ensuring that patient safety is considered in major healthcare decisions. Overall, the report offers a comprehensive plan to address and prevent medical errors, emphasizing the importance of a collective effort to prioritize patient safety on a national scale.