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National Summit to Investigate Medical Errors

Wed, 09/20/2000 - 12:00am — Karen Stevenson
Description: 

The first annual National Summit on Medical Errors and Patient Safety Research was held on September 11, 2000 in Washington, DC. to investigate causes and cures for medical errors. This summit is an outcome of a report issued late last year by the Institute of Medicine (IOM) which said that 44,000-98,000 deaths each year are caused by medical errors, and that deaths from medical errors may be the 8th leading cause of death, ahead of deaths from motor vehicle accidents. The cost of these errors are estimated to be between $17 and $29 billion. Summit participants suggested areas which need research, such as the effectiveness of automated prescription drug entry systems and the impact on errors of long hours worked by interns and other medical personnel.

The first annual National Summit on Medical Errors and Patient Safety Research was held on September 11, 2000 in Washington, DC. to investigate causes and cures for medical errors. This summit is an outcome of a report issued late last year by the Institute of Medicine (IOM) which said that 44,000-98,000 deaths each year are caused by medical errors, and that deaths from medical errors may be the 8th leading cause of death, ahead of deaths from motor vehicle accidents. The cost of these errors are estimated to be between $17 and $29 billion. Summit participants suggested areas which need research, such as the effectiveness of automated prescription drug entry systems and the impact on errors of long hours worked by interns and other medical personnel.