Medical Errors and Patient Safety in Health Care

Abstract

In Canada adverse events occur in 7.5% of all hospital admissions, and are responsible for up to 23,750 deaths annually. Adverse events are mostly related to system failure, but have multiple and varied primary causes. In order to establish the knowledge required to reduce adverse events it is important that they are reported, that data is collected and analysed on a large scale and that results are shared amongst the relevant institutions. This in turn requires a change in the culture in the health care system to one where safety is paramount and reporting is encouraged and maximized. There is also a requirement for the establishment of national reporting systems and databases to house information and a cohesive strategy for communicating findings effectively across the country.