Dive Brief:
- Acute-care hospitals in Massachusetts reported 70% more serious medical errors in 2013, with 753 total cases; other hospitals (including psychiatric care) saw a 60% increase in 2013 to 206 total. Hospitals in Massachusetts have been required to report events to the state health department since 2008.
- Some of the most commonly reported adverse events include times when patients received a procedure on the wrong body part, were assaulted or took a contaminated medication. The number of reported suicide or self-harm incidents in acute-care hospitals increased from one case in 2011 to 22 in 2013.
- The dramatic rise in error reporting may be due to an increase in adverse events. It could also be caused in part by changes that expanded the type of incidents that have to be reported or by the new computer system that makes reporting events easier.
Dive Insight:
What happened in Massachusetts could potentially occur elsewhere. A 2012 study by the Office of Inspector General found that hospitals were only reporting 8% of adverse events that they should have brought to the attention of their respective states. Of 35 events the OIG found in states where reporting was required, only three were submitted to the states.
This is due mainly to the fact that hospital staff was unaware what events should have been reported. The barriers include staff's lack of knowledge regarding what events should be reported and fear of retribution after errors. Financial penalties for adverse events likely also create some deterrent to reporting.
But the recent uptick in Massachusetts will likely draw greater attention by the OIG and states. Some experts say it is time to look to electronic medical records to help remedy the situation. EMR systems can be used to track and measure patient safety data, helping hospitals understand where they are most vulnerable.