Healthcare professionals must be diligent in updating and following medical procedures to ensure physicians do not misdiagnosis or administer the wrong treatment. Patients must also be advocates for themselves to assure they are treated correctly, according to Catching Health.
Here are five things to note about medical errors:
1. Approximately 444,000 Americans die annually because of medical errors.
2. Some officials claim medical errors are the third leading cause of death after heart disease and cancer.
3. Many of the most common errors include errors in diagnosis or treatment, complications during surgery or a procedure, hospital-associated infections and medication errors.
4. Healthcare professionals understand the importance of patient surveys about reporting events that will overall enhance the system and give the patients a voice in quality and safety efforts.
5. Julia Hallisy, MD, senior author and founder of the Empowered Patient Coalition, stated the public is a vital resource for improvement efforts.
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