The Washington Post reports, “Based on state data, Joint Commission officials estimate that wrong-site surgery occurs 40 times a week in US hospitals and clinics.” In 2010 alone, “93 cases were reported to the accrediting organization, compared with 49 in 2004.” The Post points out, “Attention to the problem comes at a time of increased focus on the broader issue of medical errors, which a recent Health Affairs study found affected one-third of hospital patients.” Recently, “the federal government recently rolled out its Partnership for Patients program aimed at reducing medical mistakes,” while “Medicare requires reporting and does not pay for wrong-site surgery, and many insurers have followed suit.” Next year, Medicaid will begin a similar policy.
Minnesota reporting highest number of wrong-site surgeries since 2004. The Minneapolis Star Tribune reported to address the problem of wrong-site surgery, some hospitals in Minnesota, including Amplatz Children’s Hospital, conduct a “timeout” before each surgery during “which all parties cease prep activities for a minute to focus on what the procedure will entail.” Notably, “experts say this ‘timeout’ procedure…is critical to eliminating preventable mistakes in the operating room.” Still, “despite several years of promoting timeouts, Minnesota hospitals and surgery centers reported 48 wrong surgeries in the most recent 12-month reporting period — the highest number since the state began collecting data in 2004.”
From the American Association for Justice news release.
