Readers know that the Aegis staff believe that many if not most medical errors are preventable. Likewise, many, if not most, errors are expensive and dangerous to your health. A new report from U.S. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) reconfirms our beliefs.

What actually caught our eye was the amount that this costs consumers- $1.5 billion annually. You read that right BILLION dollars.

We are fequently asked “What can i, as a consumer, do about this?” Here are some answers:
If you have an unexpected adverse outcome:
1) report it to your state medical board.
2) report it to the JCAHO. You can use the Sentinel Event Hotline @630-792-3700. You can also report on line. Click HERE to go directly to the complaint page.
3) contact the Beneficiary Complaint Response Program @1-800-MEDICARe if you are a Medicare beneficiary. You will be directed to an individual who will be able to walk you through the process that follows. You can find the complaint response program HERE.
4) report it to your insurance carrier.
5) report it to your employer’s personnel or benefits director.
6) complain to the hospital administrator

Prevention is always better than management of adverse outcomes. The best way to prevent many adverse outcomes is still taking an active role in your health care, ask questions, check out your physician and hospital carefully, and reduce all of your agreements with your physician or hospital to writing.

It’s your health, take part and take care.