Tracking medical errors and patient harms in New Hampshire acute care hospitals and ambulatory surgical centers
New Hampshire hospitals and ambulatory surgical centers (ASCs), (with the exception of New Hampshire Hospital) are required by law to report all Serious Reportable Events (SREs), as defined by the National Quality Forum’s (NQF) Serious Reportable Events in Health-2011 Update: A Consensus Report.
The NQF has identified 29 Serious Reportable Events, also called “never events,” which are the basis for state mandatory reporting systems intended to identify and measure events that are considered preventable and of interest to the public and other stakeholders. Identifying and tracking these medical errors and patient harms is an important step in improving patient safety.
The NQF has identified 29 Serious Reportable Events, also called “never events,” which are the basis for state mandatory reporting systems intended to identify and measure events that are considered preventable and of interest to the public and other stakeholders. Identifying and tracking these medical errors and patient harms is an important step in improving patient safety.
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| New Hampshire Serious Reportable Events 2010-2023 |
According to the NH report based on 2023 data, the increase in adverse events reported from previous years is attributed in part to the ongoing collaboration between the New Hampshire Healthcare Quality and Safety Commission, working to reinforce the importance of reporting and indirectly promote a safe and strong reporting culture by hospitals and ASCs. The report further cautions, that consumers should not "compare the quality of care and safety of the facilities by the number or types of SRE reported. Consumers need to look at all factors such as size of the facility, scope, and complexities of the procedures as well as the number of procedures performed at the facility."
According to the report, the three most common hospital errors in New Hampshire account for 83 percent of all SREs documented.
- Falls - 25%
- Pressure Injuries - 41%
- Surgical Events - 17%
Questions about an injury or death due to medical malpractice? Contact our medical malpractice lawyers for a free case review in New Hampshire, Massachusetts, or Rhode Island.
