Fatal Care: Survive in the U.S. Health System
Encyclopedia
Fatal Care: Survive in the U.S. Health System is a book about preventable medical errors written by Sanjaya Kumar, president
and chief medical officer
of Quantros
, Milpitas, California
. Fatal Care was published in April 2008 by IGI Publishing, Minneapolis, Minnesota
.
Fatal Care: Survive in the U.S. Health System describes the impact of preventable medical errors on thirteen families. Topics covered include: heparin
overdose, misdiagnosis, hospital-acquired infection, patient-controlled analgesia
(PCA) pump, medically induced trauma
, inadequate emergency room care, and wrong site surgery
. Fatal Care identifies gaps in the health care
system based on documented factual information and analysis for health care consumers and professionals.
According to Institute of Medicine
(IOM) and Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI), as many as 98,000 patient deaths occur each year in U.S. healthcare facilities as a result of preventable medical errors. Also, IOM and IHI report preventable medical errors impact at least five million Americans annually, costing more than $17–21 billion.
Well-publicized preventable medical error cases involve celebrities Dennis Quaid
, Terry Francona
and Charlie Weis
.
President
A president is a leader of an organization, company, trade union, university, or country.Etymologically, a president is one who presides, who sits in leadership...
and chief medical officer
Chief Medical Officer
There are four Chief Medical Officers in the United Kingdom who are appointed to advise their respective governments on health related matters: Her Majesty's Government, the Northern Ireland Executive, the Scottish Government and the Welsh Assembly Government...
of Quantros
Quantros
Quantros is a privately owned health care software company based in Milpitas, California.-Concept:Quantros focuses on four primary health care markets: Quality, patient safety, infection control and accreditation standards compliance...
, Milpitas, California
Milpitas, California
Milpitas is a city in Santa Clara County, California. It is a suburb of the major city of San Jose, California. It is located with San Jose to its south and Fremont to its north, at the eastern end of State Route 237 and generally between Interstates 680 and 880 which run roughly north/south...
. Fatal Care was published in April 2008 by IGI Publishing, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Minneapolis , nicknamed "City of Lakes" and the "Mill City," is the county seat of Hennepin County, the largest city in the U.S. state of Minnesota, and the 48th largest in the United States...
.
Fatal Care: Survive in the U.S. Health System describes the impact of preventable medical errors on thirteen families. Topics covered include: heparin
Heparin
Heparin , also known as unfractionated heparin, a highly sulfated glycosaminoglycan, is widely used as an injectable anticoagulant, and has the highest negative charge density of any known biological molecule...
overdose, misdiagnosis, hospital-acquired infection, patient-controlled analgesia
Patient-controlled analgesia
Patient-controlled analgesia is any method of allowing a person in pain to administer their own pain relief. The infusion is programmable by the prescriber...
(PCA) pump, medically induced trauma
Physical trauma
Trauma refers to "a body wound or shock produced by sudden physical injury, as from violence or accident." It can also be described as "a physical wound or injury, such as a fracture or blow." Major trauma can result in secondary complications such as circulatory shock, respiratory failure and death...
, inadequate emergency room care, and wrong site surgery
Surgery
Surgery is an ancient medical specialty that uses operative manual and instrumental techniques on a patient to investigate and/or treat a pathological condition such as disease or injury, or to help improve bodily function or appearance.An act of performing surgery may be called a surgical...
. Fatal Care identifies gaps in the health care
Health care
Health care is the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disease, illness, injury, and other physical and mental impairments in humans. Health care is delivered by practitioners in medicine, chiropractic, dentistry, nursing, pharmacy, allied health, and other care providers...
system based on documented factual information and analysis for health care consumers and professionals.
According to Institute of Medicine
Institute of Medicine
The Institute of Medicine is a not-for-profit, non-governmental American organization founded in 1970, under the congressional charter of the National Academy of Sciences...
(IOM) and Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI), as many as 98,000 patient deaths occur each year in U.S. healthcare facilities as a result of preventable medical errors. Also, IOM and IHI report preventable medical errors impact at least five million Americans annually, costing more than $17–21 billion.
Well-publicized preventable medical error cases involve celebrities Dennis Quaid
Dennis Quaid
Dennis William Quaid is an American actor known for his comedic and dramatic roles. First gaining widespread attention in the 1980s, his career rebounded in the 1990s after he overcame an addiction to drugs and an eating disorder...
, Terry Francona
Terry Francona
Terry Jon Francona , nicknamed "Tito," is a former Major League Baseball manager and a former player. He was a first baseman and outfielder in the majors from 1981 to 1990. After retiring as a player, he managed several minor league teams in the 1990s before managing the Philadelphia Phillies for...
and Charlie Weis
Charlie Weis
Charles Joseph "Charlie" Weis is an American football coach. He currently serves as offensive coordinator for the Florida Gators. For five years, from December 2004 through 2009, he was the head football coach at the University of Notre Dame...
.