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America’s health care system is the best in the world. We are fortunate to live in a country in which so many talented men and women dedicate themselves to the practice of medicine. These skilled professionals help us stay healthy, make us better when we are sick, and allow us to live longer and better lives.
Sometimes, however, medical errors happen. These errors, many of which are preventable, lead to the deaths of more than 98,000 Americans each year, according to the Institute of Medicine. That is why I introduced legislation (H.R. 3205) which will help reduce medical errors and save lives.
This bill, the Patient Safety and Quality Improvement Act, will establish a framework within which doctors, hospitals, and other health care providers can report medical errors to patient safety organizations which would analyze the data and recommend steps that physicians can take to prevent such errors from occurring in the future. It is critically important that physicians and other health care providers share information about errors and near-misses so that we learn why such mistakes happen and how to stop them.
Many preventable medical errors are caused by faulty systems or processes which create conditions that make errors more likely. I believe that exposing the conditions which lead to medical mistakes will make it easier for health care professionals to pursue proper treatment courses and more difficult for them to act in a manner which could result in harm. Both the House and Senate have approved the Patient Safety and Quality Improvement Act and President Bush has signed it into law.
I believe that it is absolutely critical to create a culture of awareness to expose and address the systemic causes of medical errors instead of continuing the culture of blame which hides and perpetuates them. The Patient Safety and Quality Improvement Act will do just that, helping to ensure that Americans continue to receive the health care they deserve.
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