To Err Is Human: Building a Safer Health System

Bys: Institute of Medicine and Committee on Quality of Health Care in A

Book Overview

Experts estimate that as many as 98,000 people die in any given year from medical errors that occur in hospitals. That's more than die from motor vehicle accidents, breast cancer, or AIDS--three causes that receive far more public attention. Indeed, more people die annually from medication errors than from workplace injuries. Add the financial cost to the human tragedy, and medical error easily rises to the top ranks of urgent, widespread public...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0309068371
• ISBN13: 9780309068376
• Release Date: April 2000
• Publisher: National Academies Press
• Length: 312 Pages
• Weight: 1.45 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 6.0" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

A Very Strong Case for Change

Far from being just another catalogue of avoidable trajedy this well written and well researched volume focuses on what needs to be done. It recommends nothing short of a a wholesale change in the design and structure of the healthcare industry. You will not read this book and feel comfortable with the status quo. You will not read this book and think things can change easilly. You will not read this book and give up hope - it is something like a, "call to arms" for all caring and motivated people to act to change things for the better. Try and imagine healthcare delivered like Toyota make cars - zero defects, just in time, team-based problem solving... not silos and secrecy. Bravo to the authors for their courage and insight. You may also enjoy, Lean Hospitals: Improving Quality, Patient Safety, and Employee Satisfaction if you enjoy this book.

The committee approach

This is a book which, despite being written by a committee and showing it, has a definite point of view. It is somewhat superficial, but contains a fairly good review of the literature on medical error and some definite ideas about what to do. This is the book for policy wonks who are interested both in health care and in government intervention. Those looking for more in-depth treatment of the subject would do well to consider Human Error in Medicine, edited by Marilyn Sue Bogner.

Everyone should read this book

This eye opening book exposes the dangers of the medical health care system in the United States. Tens of thousands of people die and are injured every year due to doctors' errors, administrative foul ups, misdiagnoses, and incorrect prescriptions. The book gives general solutions for the system as a whole and advice to the individual to help you protect yourself when you are being treated by a doctor or hospital.My spouse is a Medical Malpractice attorney and you would not believe the frequency of tragic and catastophic errors made by health care providers that change and end people's lives unnecessarily. It can happen to anyone without warning. Protect yourself and purchase this book today for a no nonsense look at the system you may one day depend on to save your life.