Incidence rate and financial burden of medical errors and policy interventions to address them: a multi-method study protocol

Abstract

Medical error is one of the most critical challenges facing medical services. They pose a substantial threat to patient safety, and their costs draw attention from policymakers, health care planners and researchers. We aim to make a realistic estimation of medical error incidence and related costs and identify factors influencing this incidence in Iranian hospitals. In the first phase of this multi-method study, through two reviews of systematic reviews and a meta-analysis, we will estimate the incidence of medical errors and the strategies to reduce them. We will extract available data among 41 hospitals supervised by the East Azerbaijan University in the second phase. We will also develop a model and use a Delphi method to predict medical errors incidence and calibrate our model output using the Monte Carlo simulation. We will compare this estimation with the incidence rate based on meta-analysis results from the first phase. In the third phase, we will investigate the relationship between several factors potentially influencing medical error incidence. In the fourth phase, we will estimate costs associated with medical errors by conducting a patient records review and matching those with claims related to medical errors. In the fifth phase, we will present a policy brief related to strategies for medical errors and associated costs reduction in Iran. Our findings could benefit Iranian and policymakers in other countries to reduce medical errors and associated costs.

Health System- and Patient-Related Factors Associated with COVID-19 Mortality among Hospitalized Patients in Limpopo Province of South Africa’s Public Hospitals

“…Various authors have reported important challenges and recommendations in the health system during the COVID-19 pandemic [ 11 , 12 ]. For example, health system errors were identified as possibly the most critical challenge facing health care services [ 11 , 12 ].…”

“…Various authors have reported important challenges and recommendations in the health system during the COVID-19 pandemic [ 11 , 12 ]. For example, health system errors were identified as possibly the most critical challenge facing health care services [ 11 , 12 ]. Health system errors are common in intensive care units (ICU), operating rooms, and emergency departments (EDs) due to various factors [ 11 , 13 ].…”

“…For example, health system errors were identified as possibly the most critical challenge facing health care services [ 11 , 12 ]. Health system errors are common in intensive care units (ICU), operating rooms, and emergency departments (EDs) due to various factors [ 11 , 13 ]. The current lack of definitive treatment for COVID-19 has led health care providers to rely on uncertainties when managing patients, and this has negative consequences on the health system [ 1 , 14 ].…”

“…The current lack of definitive treatment for COVID-19 has led health care providers to rely on uncertainties when managing patients, and this has negative consequences on the health system [ 1 , 14 ]. In addition, health system errors, such as wrong drug prescription, dosage, and injection, endanger the safety of patients [ 11 ]. Moreover, other errors, such as misdiagnosis or surgical mishaps resulting in treatment delays, worsened outcomes, such as fatal consequences or prolonged care, which jeopardize patient safety and breach public trust [ 15 , 16 , 17 ].…”

Medication dosage calculation among nursing students: does digital technology make a difference? A literature review

“…Aside from the ethical issues, MDC errors can result in higher healthcare expenses [ 9 ]. Medical errors are expected to cost at least 20 billion dollars in the United States [ 10 ] and in Sweden around SEK 8 billion per year [ 11 ].…”