The Institute of Medicine (IOM) report released in December 1999 caught the public's attention and, subsequently, the attention of lawmakers across the nation, like no other patient safety study before it. Estimating annual deaths caused by medical errors at 44,000 to 98,000, "To Err is Human" provided impetus for Congressional hearings and for President Clinton to appoint a presidential task force to look at the systemic problems that compromise patient safety in some situations.
The IOM study was attacked for using very limited samples to make far-reaching extrapolations, but the report was equally controversial for some of its recommendations. The institute report recommended requiring health care professionals to report medical errors and suggested periodic re-testing and re-licensing of health care professionals. TMA leaders recognize that many physicians are uncomfortable about how a mandatory reporting system and a relicensing system would work.
While recognizing that mistakes caused by flawed systems and human error sometimes compromise patient safety, TMA supports initiatives to enhance patient safety. TMA has a long history of backing programs that seek to eliminate medical errors inherent in treatment systems and processes. TMA helped create the Texas Medical Foundation, a quality improvement organization, and it supports the IOM recommendation to create a national Center for Patient Safety. TMA also has adopted the General Principles for Patient Safety Reporting Systems, which are designed to ensure that error reporting systems are non-punitive, provide confidentiality and legal protections for patients and health care professionals, and promote the sharing of information among health care organizations.
TMA Patient Safety Resources
Last Updated On
June 30, 2010
Originally Published On
March 23, 2010