Patient Safety

Although estimates vary, as many as 251,000 people a year die in U.S. hospitals due to medical errors, also called Preventable Adverse Events (PAEs).

Take an active role in every decision about your health care. If needed, have a family member or friend oversee your care.

“Wrong-site” surgery includes operating on the wrong person, the wrong organ, or the wrong limb.

Before you are taken into surgery, make sure the surgery is the one scheduled for you. Mark the body part to be operated on, too. Use the marker, etc. the doctor gives you to do this.

Find out about patient safety from the Institute for Healthcare Improvement atihi.organd the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality atahrq.gov.