The Most Common Medical Errors and How to Prevent Them
M edical errors are a serious problem that can have devastating consequences for patients. According to the Institute of Medicine, medical errors are the third leading cause of death in the United States, after heart disease and cancer. There are many different types of medical errors, but some of the most common include: Medication errors: These are errors that occur in the prescribing, dispensing, or administration of medication. They can range from giving the wrong drug to giving the wrong dose. Diagnostic errors: These are errors that occur in the process of diagnosing a patient's condition. They can include missing a diagnosis altogether, or making a wrong diagnosis. Surgical errors: These are errors that occur during surgery. They can range from leaving instruments inside the patient's body to operating on the wrong part of the body. Infections: Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) are infections that patients acquire while they are receiving care in a ...