AARP: Make Medical Error Data Public
By: State: New Jersey | Source: aarp.org
Under current New Jersey law, the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services is required to file a yearly report that lists the total number of preventable medical errors that occur in New Jersey.
However, the Department never publicly discloses hospital-specific information in this report. New Jerseyans are left in the dark, unaware of how safe their local hospital really is.
"AARP calls on New Jersey's Commissioner of Health and Senior Services, Heather Howard, to release the numbers of preventable medical errors by each health care facility in the state," said Sy Larson AARP New Jersey State President. "It is time for the state to stop hiding these error rates and give consumers meaningful health quality information."
A preventable medical error is defined as an avoidable mistake that results in serious injury or death. The Patient Safety Act of 2004 requires New Jersey hospitals to report 28 types of medical errors like wrong site surgery and medication errors.
According to the most recent Patient Safety Report, which reflects 2006 data, 450 preventable medical errors occurred in New Jersey hospitals and health facilities. In the same year, it is reported that 42 people died because of preventable medical errors.
AARP believes that the public has the right to know where these preventable medical mistakes are occurring.
The issue of preventable medical errors has received a lot of press in the past few weeks. Newspapers like the Asbury Park Press and Press of Atlantic City have featured editorials calling for the public reporting of medical errors. TV stations like News 12 and WNBC have also featured stories on this important topic.
AARP created a video news release featuring the tragic story of Richard Flagg. Richard Flagg was admitted for surgery to remove a tumor in his left lung. Tragically, wrong-side surgery occurred. Instead of removing 10% of the tumor on Flagg's left lung, the surgeon removed 40% of Flagg's healthy right lung, a mistake that ultimately cost Richard Flagg his life.
This year, the State suspended Flagg's doctor's medical license.
Marilyn Askin, AARP Chief Legislative Advocate will be undergoing hip surgery in a few weeks. Marilyn discussed her efforts to find information about an individual hospital's safety record.
"As I face my upcoming surgery, I want information to identify the safest hospital for my procedure," said Askin. "I've searched for this information and it is spotty at best. One important piece of the equation is the record of any hospital on preventing medical errors. Currently, this information is impossible to find."
"AARP believes that it is the public's right to know which hospitals and medical facilities have the highest and lowest medical error rates, so that health consumers like Marilyn Askin can make responsible health care choices," said AARP New Jersey State President Sy Larson.
Call Commissioner Health Howard today and tell her to publicly report preventable medical error data by health care facility! Call toll-free at 1-800-367-6543.
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