Hospital Safety Scores Show Slow Progress, with Medical Errors a Leading Cause of Death in This Country

Startling new research reveals that medical errors are the third leading cause of death – trailing heart disease and cancer – in the United States, with up to 440,000 Americansdying annually from preventable healthcare errors. Hospital Errors are the Third Leading Cause of Death in U.S.

In fact, medical errors and the problems they create, such as infections and other complications, cost millions and millions each year. Study Puts Cost of Medical Errors At $19.5 Billion

The recently released 2013 update to The Leapfrog Group Hospital Safety Score assigns A, B, C, D and F grades to more than 2,500 U.S. hospitals. While it demonstrates that many hospitals are making some progress in addressing errors, accidents, injuries and infections that kill or injure patients, overall improvement is sluggish.

“We are burying a population the size of Miami every year from medical errors that can be prevented. A number of hospitals have improved by one or even two grades, indicating hospitals are taking steps toward safer practices, but these efforts aren’t enough,” Leah Binder, president and CEO of Leapfrog said in a press release. “During this time of rapid health care transformation, it’s vital that we work together to arm patients with the information they need and tell doctors and hospitals that the time for change is now.” Hospital Safety Score

The Hospital Safety Score is calculated under the guidance of the Leapfrog Blue Ribbon Expert Panel, with methodology analyzed in the Journal of Patient Safety.

For more information, visit www.hospitalsafetyscore.org