More than 25% of Medicare patients in 2008 were at risk of being subjected to an “adverse event” at a hospital, according to a report from the Department of Health and Human Services inspector general.

 

A 2008 survey of 81 hospitals found that 27% of Medicare beneficiaries experienced either medical errors or other improper treatment while in hospitals. Adverse events included surgeries performed on the wrong body part, incorrect blood transfusions and even sexual assaults. Among the most common problems were medication-induced delirium, blood transfusion overload and excessive bleeding.

 

Physician reviewers determined that 44% of the adverse events and mishaps were “clearly or likely preventable,” according to the report. These involved such errors as prescribing or administering the wrong medication, unnecessary delays in diagnosis and treatment, and inadequate monitoring of patients.

 

These mistakes wound up costing the Medicare system about $324 million.

-Noel Brinkerhoff

 

Report Says a Quarter of Hospitalized Medicare Patients Got Improper Treatment (by Alexandra Duszak, iWatch News)

Adverse Events in Hospitals: National Incidence Among Medicare Beneficiaries (Department of Health and Human Services, Inspector General) (pdf)

Medicare Wastes Billions of Dollars on Unnecessary Cancer Screening for Elderly (by Noel Brinkerhoff and David Wallechinsky, AllGov)