Abstract
Background
Health care–related adverse events (HCRAEs), which should not be confused with (blameworthy)
medical errors, are common; they can lead to hospital admissions and can have grave
consequences. Although they are sometimes potentially preventable, information is
lacking on HCRAEs leading to admission to different departments.
Aim
This study aimed to gain insight into the incidence, type, severity, and preventability
of HCRAEs (including adverse drug events) leading to hospitalization to the departments
of internal medicine, surgery, orthopedics, neurology, and neurosurgery. Further,
we explore if there are differences regarding these HCRAEs between these departments.
Methods
We retrospectively evaluated the medical records of all patients admitted through
the emergency department (ED) in a 6-month period to the departments of internal medicine,
surgery, orthopedics, neurology, and neurosurgery. All patients admitted because of
HCRAEs were included.
Results
More than one-fifth (21.8%; range 12.0%–47.8%) of all admissions to the 5 departments
were due to a HCRAE. Half (49.9%) of these HCRAEs were medication-related and 30.5%
were procedure-related. In 6.5% of patients, the HCRAE led to permanent disability
and another 4.4% of patients died during hospitalization. HCRAEs treated by internists
and neurologists were usually medication-related, whereas HCRAEs treated by surgeons,
orthopedic surgeons, and neurosurgeons were usually procedure-related.
Conclusion
Hospital admissions to different departments are often caused by HCRAEs, which sometimes
lead to permanent disability or even death. Gaining insight into similarities and
differences in HCRAEs occurring in different specialties is a starting point for improving
clinical outcomes.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: August 06, 2015
Footnotes
The authors declare no conflicts of interest.
Identification
Copyright
© 2015 AMDA – The Society for Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medicine. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
