This article on iatrogenic harms is disheartening. Despite widespread discussion of the issue and the extensive use of guidelines, the rates of such harms have been sustained at a significant level. This finding is a strong indication of poor quality and ineffective quality improvement initiatives. Medical care is challenging and may be more prone to mistakes than other professions due to the plethora of variables, both biological and mechanical, that can influence outcomes. Perhaps the use of technology will help medical practitioners limit such mistakes through automated checklist programs. Such mistakes could also be utilized as educational tools for trainees and attending physicians. Monetary incentives are already in place to discourage iatrogenic harms, but they are obviously insufficient. Perhaps a reporting system in which hospitals (and even individual physicians) are required to report the rates of such harms would provide a stronger incentive to limit their occurrence. However, such approaches could be problematic because even the best doctor will make mistakes during a long career. The dis-incentives must be strong enough to significantly limit such harms without being so drastic that they ruin careers or keep people from becoming physicians out of fear that they will be severely punished for mistakes. This complex issue requires further study in order to alleviate this worrisome trend.
This article on iatrogenic harms is disheartening. Despite widespread discussion of the issue and the extensive use of guidelines, the rates of such harms have been sustained at a significant level. This finding is a strong indication of poor quality and ineffective quality improvement initiatives. Medical care is challenging and may be more prone to mistakes than other professions due to the plethora of variables, both biological and mechanical, that can influence outcomes. Perhaps the use of technology will help medical practitioners limit such mistakes through automated checklist programs. Such mistakes could also be utilized as educational tools for trainees and attending physicians. Monetary incentives are already in place to discourage iatrogenic harms, but they are obviously insufficient. Perhaps a reporting system in which hospitals (and even individual physicians) are required to report the rates of such harms would provide a stronger incentive to limit their occurrence. However, such approaches could be problematic because even the best doctor will make mistakes during a long career. The dis-incentives must be strong enough to significantly limit such harms without being so drastic that they ruin careers or keep people from becoming physicians out of fear that they will be severely punished for mistakes. This complex issue requires further study in order to alleviate this worrisome trend.
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