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Speak up! It may help fight medical errors
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Last Updated: 2003-03-07 17:00:09 -0400 (Reuters Health)
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) -- As part of a nationwide campaign to curb medical errors, a leading
healthcare safety group is urging patients to speak up about their medical questions.
During Patient Safety Awareness Week March 9-15, the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare
Organizations will launch its second annual "Speak Up" program.
The program's goal is to improve healthcare quality and empower people to participate in decisions
about their medical care. Patients will receive brochures and medical professionals in hospitals,
clinics, doctor's offices and pharmacies will wear buttons inviting people to ask questions.
"Sometimes people may feel intimidated to ask questions," Cathy Barry-Ipema, spokesperson for the
Joint Commission, told Reuters Health. "So we want to say that it is fine. It is OK. Healthcare
organizations want you to ask questions. It is important."
Nearly 100,000 people die each year as a result of medical mistakes, according to recent statistics.
Through a medical error database, the Joint Commission tracks mistakes from nearly 17,000 healthcare
organizations that report the information voluntarily. Poor communication and patient
misidentification could lead to medication and surgical errors, which were among the "major"
problems seen, Barry-Ipema said.
She noted that research has shown the more involved patients are the more likely they are to have
good outcomes.
"Patients can play a vital role in making their healthcare safe, by becoming active, involved and
informed," she said. "They need to see themselves as the center of the healthcare team. They need to
ask questions." And if they can't, Barry-Ipema said, patients need to have loved ones or other
advocates speak on their behalf.