Preventable medication errors
Our government has found funding for education and research for breast cancer, prostate cancer, AIDS and heart disease. There has been funding to educate Americans about seatbelt safety, bike helmet safety and airline safety. The funding available seems endless and sometimes even questionable. Where does all this money come from? Recently, Newsday ran an article that a bill was being presented to Congress to secure $22 million to educate the public about yet another disease. This is being done by the same people who have told me that there is no funding available to educate patients and family about patient safety.

When questioned further, the response was that there just isn't a big enough request for this. Preventable medication errors result in an average increased hospital cost of $4,700 per admission or about $2.8 million annually for a 700 bed hospital. More people die every year of medical errors than breast cancer, AIDS or auto accidents. One in five Americans say they or a family member experienced a medical or medication error. And still over 100,000 people are dying every year from medical errors. This is equivalent to a plane crash every day. But because there is not a big enough outcry for funding for education and awareness, it will go elsewhere. We can learn to be a partner in our care and avoid becoming a statistic.

Please see Ilene Corina to sign a letter to help secure funding for this important topic.

Click here to go to the official PULSE website.