Patients reporting more adverse events than are in their medical records
Patient Safety Monitor Alert
July 16, 2008
A new study published in the July 15 Annals of Internal Medicine says that patients who were interviewed after being discharged from a hospital stay reported double the number of adverse events had occurred during their stays than were indicated in their medical records. Patients were interviewed as a part of this study to see if their medical records accurately reflected their care.
Of the 998 patients interviewed, one adverse event was identified in the medical records of 11% of the group. When interviewed, 23% of patients in that same group reported having experienced one adverse event while undergoing care. Interviews also uncovered a higher number of serious events than indicated in medical records. The study recommends placing questions about adverse events in patients' postdischarge interviews.
To read the abstract, click here (subscription is required to read full version).
