Study Finds Medical Errors Cost United States Billions
- 8/25/2010
- Author: Audrie Bretl Roelf
- Category: Benchmark Blog
- 5682 Views
- 0 Comments
Medical errors cost the United States billions of dollars in 2008 according to a new study commissioned by the Society of Actuaries (SOA). The study’s findings, based on claims data, estimate that medical errors cost the U.S. economy $19.5 billion in both direct costs paid out as insurance claims, and indirect costs, such as lost worker productivity.
In addition, of the approximately $80 billion in medical injury costs, about 25% were the result of avoidable medical errors. The study concluded that approximately 55% of the total medical error costs resulted from the following five common errors:
1. Pressure ulcers
2. Postoperative infections
3. Mechanical complications of devices, implants, or grafts
4. Postlaminectomy syndrome
5. Hemorrhages complicating a procedure
Other key findings from the study include the following:
• There were 6.3 million measureable medical injuries in the United States in 2008; of the 6.3 million injuries, the SOA estimates that 1.5 million were associated with a medical error.
• The average total cost per error was approximately $13,000.
• In an inpatient setting, 7% of admissions are estimated to result in some type of medical injury.
• The measurable medical errors resulted in more than 2,500 avoidable deaths and more than 10 million work days missed due to short-term disability.
The study’s findings were based on an analysis of an extensive database.
Do you believe this study to be accurate? What role do you see medical errors playing in your organizations?
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