From Globe.com:
Nearly 30 years after Betsy Lehman died from an accidental overdose of chemotherapy drugs, Massachusetts facilities are still grappling with the issue of medical errors.
On Wednesday, the center formed in her name, in collaboration with a consortium of health care experts and industry groups, launched a new road map to educate and hold accountable all those involved in the state’s health care system. The recommendations include the establishment of a statewide program of health care safety education and training for all staff and administrators, including front-line workers; boosting patient and family engagement in safety improvements; and streamlining and coordinating the various state systems that track safety data to reduce duplication and information gaps.
Despite some strides, progress has been slow. In 2019, one in five Massachusetts residents experienced a medical error in their own care or in the care of a household or close family member.
A 2019 report by the Lehman center found that in a typical year, there were 62,000 cases of preventable harm to Massachusetts patients, resulting in $617 million in excess health insurance claims. Additionally, a study published in 2023 in the New England Journal of Medicine looking at 2018 data from 11 Massachusetts hospitals found that 7 percent of all patient admissions involved a preventable adverse event related to medication, surgery, or health care associated infections.
The pandemic has worsened many metrics of patient safety, with higher rates of health care associated infections, falls, and pressure ulcers.
The data, however, only reflect incidents in places that are tracked. There are a number of settings — such as physician’s offices — that do not collect safety data and have very few requirements to report safety events.
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