- Healthcare sector predictions: over 600 treatment blunders forecasted by 2023
Last year, Bavaria's Medical Service acknowledged 654 instances of treatment mishaps in patients. Out of the 2,569 scrutinized scenarios, approximately one out of four (25.5%) encountered a treatment blunder and subsequent damage, as reported by a representative from Bavaria's Medical Service in Munich.
In approximately 571 situations (22.2%), the treatment error was identified as the origin of the harm, indicating potential compensation for the patients. However, more than 70% of the suspected error cases went undetected by experts.
The Medical Service indicated that the presented figures only reflect a minuscule fraction of the actual treatment blunders, as treatment-related errors are not centrally logged in Germany.
Medical Service Pushes for Greater Transparency
In the best interests of patients, the Medical Service has been advocating for enhanced transparency and bolstering patient safety through systematic preventive measures for years. The priority lies in preventing "Never Events."
These encompass particularly grave but preventable treatment errors such as misidentifying patients, operations, or medications, or leaving surgical instruments within a patient's body. "Many of these 'Never Events' could be averted if we finally instituted a mandatory reporting system," stated Christine Adolph, deputy chairperson of the board.
Such reporting systems are already operational in numerous countries. "They enable us to record, analyze, systematically detect the root causes of treatment errors, and derive preventive measures," noted Adolph. To uphold patient safety, a nationwide reporting obligation should be implemented during the revision of the Patient Rights Act.
The Medical Service serves as the consultative and evaluative body for statutory health and long-term care insurance. It monitors the quality of nursing homes and hospitals and also handles individual case evaluations for insured individuals. If a patient suspects a treatment error, they should initially contact their health insurance company. The insurance company can then instruct the Medical Service to assess whether a treatment error has resulted in harm to the insured individual. The examination does not impose any costs on the insured individual.
In alignment with their advocacy, the Medical Service emphasizes the importance of improving health and safety standards by promoting greater transparency and implementing preventive measures. This is aimed at reducing the occurrence of "Never Events," which include preventable errors like misidentifying patients or leaving surgical instruments inside a patient, as stated by Christine Adolph.
To effectively address treatment errors and enhance patient safety, Adolph suggests implementing a mandatory reporting system, calling it a crucial step towards detecting the causes of such errors and deriving preventive measures, as seen in several other countries.
