Despite significant efforts to improve the rate of medical errors at hospitals and facilities throughout the country, there is still a lingering problem. In 2010 alone, the government found that approximately 15,000 Medicare patients died from poor medical care each month. That number is substantially similar to the estimate released by the national Academy of Sciences that said as many as 100,000 patients die each year due to preventable medical malpractice and medical errors.

While it may be impossible to eliminate medical errors altogether, the number hasn't dropped as quickly as patient safety advocates hoped. New initiatives are suggested to further reduce the risk of serious harm due to a medical error such as a wrong-site surgery or medication mistake.

One of those initiatives is a requirement of a medical care checklist. At some hospitals, the checklist must be completed to ensure compliance with safety standards. The checklists include many tasks that directly contribute to the health and safety of patients including:

  • Wash hands
  • Report vitals or patient information in hospital system
  • Digital record checks
  • Check patient wristband
  • Visibly mark surgery site with pen or marker

The goal of the comprehensive checklist required of all medical professionals at some hospitals is to avoid a preventable medical error that causes harm to the patient. A checklist not only acts as a reminder to medical professionals, it demands consistent care for patients. The problem, however, will be enforcing the checklists when doctors or medical professionals feel that they don't have to complete them to provide good care to patients.

Source: Kaiser Health News "Doctor, Did You Check the Checklist?" Bara Vaida, 1/30/2012