Drug Errors Injure 1.5 Million Patients

The Institute of Medicine has reported that 1.5 Million patients each year are injured in hospitals as a result of medication errors.  The study revealed the alarming statistic that at least one medical error occurs to each patient every day.  The cost for additional medical treatment necessary to address the drug errors averages $5,800 per patient, which totals about $3.5 Billion in increased medical costs.  The sad irony for the patient is that the hospitals get paid more for being sloppy so there is little incentive to spend the necessary funds to improve their infrastructure, including computerized drug prescriptions.  For more information, read the article at http://abcnews.go.com/Health/wireStory?id=2216059