The goal of every healthcare professional is to provide the best care possible; yet despite the best intentions not every encounter is perfect and medical errors or complications occasionally occur. The following organizations are committed to healthcare quality improvement and/or can help individuals cope with medical complications.
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20 Tips to Help Avoid Medical Error:
For additional support we have researched and accumulated useful web links and listed them below:
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) is a national organization committed to helping improve the provision of health care and its effectiveness. This site offers helpful links to patient and consumer information on quality improvement.
Health Care for All
Health Care for All is building a movement of individuals and organizations with the goal of creating a health care system that is responsive to the needs of all people, particularly the most vulnerable. The organization's mission is to protect public health, safety, and welfare by licensing qualified health care professionals, services, and facilities through the fair and consistent application of statutes.
Medically Induced Trauma Support Services
Medically Induced Trauma Support Services (MITSS), Inc. is a non-profit organization that supports, educates, trains and offers assistance to individuals affected by adverse medical events.
Massachusetts Coalition for the Prevention of Medical Error
The Massachusetts Coalition for the Prevention of Medical Errors is a public-private partnership whose mission is to improve patient safety and eliminate medical errors in Massachusetts.
Relevant Articles: Health Care Quality/Medical Errors/Patient Safety
Eisenberg D. When doctors say, "We're sorry." Time magazine. 2005 Aug 8.
Gorman C. Where doctors go wrong. Time magazine. 2007 Mar 15.
Jauhar S. Cases: Explain a medical error? Sure. Apologize too? New York Times. 2008 Jan 1. Available from: click here
Kowalczyk L. Young doctors exceeding work limits. The Boston Globe. 2006 Sept 6: Sect. B:1.
Leape L. Understanding the power of apology: how saying 'I'm sorry' helps heal patients and caregivers. National Patient Safety Foundation Newsletter. 2005; 8(4):1-3.
Mundell E. Doctor-patient bond frays after medical mistake. Wash Post. 2007 Oct 24.
[No authors listed] Patient protect thyself? Studies show that you can, as a patient, spot and possibly prevent a medical error from happening to you. Harv Health Lett. 2006;31(3):6.
Sack, K. Doctors Say 'I'm Sorry' Before 'See You in Court'. New York Times. 2008 May 18.
Wojcieszak D. When doctors say they're sorry. The Boston Globe, 2005 Aug 25.
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