"The only thing I remember about, about the collision is, bam."
(siren)
ITS NOT THE ACCIDENT THAT KEEPS GARY SMITHSON IN THIS WHEELCHAIR. ITS WHAT HAPPENED IN THE E-R.
"They put a catheter in, and it came back positive."
POSITIVE FOR AN INFECTION GARY WILL HAVE FOR THE REST OF HIS LIFE. HES ONE OF MORE THAN A MILLION PEOPLE THIS YEAR WHO WILL GO INTO THE HOSPITAL WITH ONE PROBLEM AND COME OUT WITH ANOTHER.
"Every doctor, every nurse, every pharmacist, every therapist, sees mistakes every day."
HOSPITALS ARE NOW TAKING STEPS TO DISCLOSE MISTAKES, APOLOGIZE AND THEN CHANGE THE SYSTEM SO IT DOESNT HAPPEN AGAIN.
"The hospital never said anything. They never even told me I had; nobody ever bothered to tell me I had it, much less that they gave it to me."
GARY IS NOT ALONE -- ONLY 42 PERCENT OF PHYSICIANS WOULD TELL A PATIENT A MISTAKE WAS MADE, AND JUST 37 PERCENT WOULD FIX THE PROBLEM SO IT WOULDNT HAPPEN AGAIN -- THATS WHY HOSPITALS ARE NOW TRYING TO HUMAN-PROOF THEIR SYSTEM.
"Systems can help resolve human error."
BUT ONLY 24 PERCENT OF HOSPITALS KEEP ELECTRONIC RECORDS -- SOMETHING THAT WOULD HELP CLOSE THE COMMUNICATION GAP.
"The patient knows it, but the patient is kind of wondering how come you two are not communicating."
HOSPITALS ARE NOW CREATING TRAUMA TEAMS TO RESPOND TO CARDIAC EMERGENCIES WITHIN SECONDS AND POSTING ANY MEDICAL PROBLEMS ON THEIR WEBSITE.
"Hospitals across the country are in the process of being transformed."
A TRANSFORMATION THAT MAY END UP SAVING MORE LIVES THAN PILLS CAN.
