Oregon's health facilities are becoming more transparent about mistakes, according to a new report from the Oregon Patient Safety Commission.
Oregon’s health organizations don’t have to tell the state about mistakes. But all hospitals and most nursing centers do report. Pharmacies have only recently been asked to report, and are dragging their heels.
Carrie Parrish, with the Oregon Patient Safety Commission, said last year 704 medical mistakes were reported — 80 more than the year before.
“It’s hard to explain that receiving more reports is a good thing," she said. "But we always talk about the fact that it means that health care facilities are being more transparent, more willing to share with us what’s not working well.”
The most common mistakes were: patients falling; being given the wrong medication or the wrong amount; and experiencing delayed care or surgical errors.
About half of those mistakes led to serious injury or death.
The vast majority of states do not have reporting systems for medical mistakes.