Patient Safety: Instilling Hospitals with a Culture of Continuous Improvement

The Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations held a hearing entitled “Patient Safety: Instilling Hospitals With a Culture of Continuous Improvement.”  Studies have shown that human error imposes large costs on the health care industry in terms of higher fees and reduced patient care.  In some cases the lack of or failure to follow safety procedures has produced tragic consequences.  Over the past decade, better management practices have helped American manufacturers make great strides in simultaneously reducing cost and increasing quality.  Many of these same practices can be adopted by the health care industry to improve outcomes and reduce costs.  Such increases in productivity will become necessary if health care is to remain affordable for the average American.  The Subcommittee hearing focused on the progress that has already been made in this area as well as the obstacles that remain.