Study: One-Third of Patients Experience Adverse Events During Hospital Stay

One in three patients experience adverse events during their hospital stay, and approximately 7 percent undergo permanent harm or die as a result, according to an American Medical News report.

The report, which cites a study from the April issue of Health Affairs, says 93 percent of adverse events required medical intervention but did not permanently injure or kill the patient. Most events were medication-related or nosocomial infections.

The study used the Global Trigger Tool to build upon medical chart review processes. Those trained to review charts systematically look for “triggers” such as medication stop orders and abnormal lab results that may indicate an adverse event. A trigger them prompts further investigation into how severe the event was and whether harm occurred.  

Trigger Tools are available from the Institute for Healthcare Improvement at no cost to hospitals.

Read the American Medical News report on patient safety.

Read more about patient safety:

– HHS to Invest Up to $1B for New Patient Safety Initiative

– Oregon Surgeon Performs Wrong-Site Surgery on Four-Year-Old

– Study: Healthcare Workers More Comfortable Reporting Medical Errors Caused by Colleagues Than Themselves

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