Past CMG Voice blog posts have analyzed the U.S. Institute of Medicine’s landmark report, “To Err is Human: Building a Safer Health System.” The study was originally published in 1999, and updated in 2013. According the 2013 study, the health care system itself may be causing as many as 440,000 preventable deaths every year in the United States. The 1999 and 2013 studies can be found here:
To Err is Human: Building A Safer Health System
A New, Evidence-based Estimate of Patient Harms Associated with Hospital Care
One of most visible advocates for patient safety throughout the 1990s was Dr. John M. Eisenberg. He championed medical reforms to improve patient safety and served as the director of the U.S. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. During his lifetime, Dr. Eisenberg authored more than 150 articles on improving health care quality and patient safety. Sadly, Dr. Eisenberg passed away in 2002.
The U.S. Institute of Medicine’s study and Dr. Eisenberg’s legacy will merge in a new documentary film. Dr. Eisenberg’s son, Mike Eisenberg, is picking up his father’s mantel and recently launched a Kickstarter campaign to produce a documentary film to educate the American public and re-energize the national discussion on the patient safety crisis. The film is being described as a melding of Dr. Eisenberg’s passion for patient safety with the shocking statistics revealed in “To Err is Human.” The filmmakers state that the film will feature hard statistics, interviews with experts and the stories of patients and families directly impacted by a medical error.
More information about the Kickstarter campaign to fund this documentary film can be found here:
