❓ A WA parliamentary question seeks data on medical error deaths in public hospitals and reporting protocols. The Minister acknowledges data limitations but highlights efforts to improve monitoring and reporting of adverse events.
AnsweredQoN 235Legislative Assembly
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(2) When a patient dies due to medical error, does the State Government legally require the medical practitioner and/or hospital concerned to report that? (3) If yes, who to? (4) If no, why not? (5) How many deaths occurred in Western Australian public hospitals during 1998-99 due to medical error? Answered on 18 October 2000 The Minister
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
18 October 2000
Response time
70 days
(1) The establishment of information and quality systems, including adverse event monitoring, is proceeding in a significant number of health services. A computerised clinical incident monitoring system, which is currently in the process of being purchased, will facilitate better access to relevant data and will be progressively implemented throughout the State. (2) All unexpected deaths in hospitals must be reported. (3) The Coroner. (4) Not applicable. (5) The number of deaths specifically due to medical error is not known for Western Australian public hospitals. A study conducted under the auspice of Australian Health Ministers estimated that 10 per cent of hospital admissions were associated with an adverse event. An adverse event was defined as an unintended injury or complication that results in disability, death or prolongation of hospital stay, and was caused by health care management rather than the patient's disease. The primary data relate to admissions in 1992 to 28 hospitals in New South Wales and South Australia and were originally collected for the Quality in Australian Health Care Study published in 1995. The State Government is concerned at any level of adverse events and is participating with all State and Commonwealth governments in the work of the Australian Council for Safety and Quality in Health Care in addressing issues related to the quality of health care in Australian hospitals.
(3) If yes, who to? (4) If no, why not? (5) How many deaths occurred in Western Australian public hospitals during 1998-99 due to medical error? Answered on 18 October 2000 The Minister Replied: (1) The establishment of information and quality systems, including adverse event monitoring, is proceeding in a significant number of health services. A computerised clinical incident monitoring system, which is currently in the process of being purchased, will facilitate better access to relevant data and will be progressively implemented throughout the State. (2) All unexpected deaths in hospitals must be reported. (3) The Coroner. (4) Not applicable. (5) The number of deaths specifically due to medical error is not known for Western Australian public hospitals. A study conducted under the auspice of Australian Health Ministers estimated that 10 per cent of hospital admissions were associated with an adverse event. An adverse event was defined as an unintended injury or complication that results in disability, death or prolongation of hospital stay, and was caused by health care management rather than the patient's disease. The primary data relate to admissions in 1992 to 28 hospitals in New South Wales and South Australia and were originally collected for the Quality in Australian Health Care Study published in 1995. The State Government is concerned at any level of adverse events and is participating with all State and Commonwealth governments in the work of the Australian Council for Safety and Quality in Health Care in addressing issues related to the quality of health care in Australian hospitals.
(4) If no, why not? (5) How many deaths occurred in Western Australian public hospitals during 1998-99 due to medical error? Answered on 18 October 2000 The Minister Replied: (1) The establishment of information and quality systems, including adverse event monitoring, is proceeding in a significant number of health services. A computerised clinical incident monitoring system, which is currently in the process of being purchased, will facilitate better access to relevant data and will be progressively implemented throughout the State. (2) All unexpected deaths in hospitals must be reported. (3) The Coroner. (4) Not applicable. (5) The number of deaths specifically due to medical error is not known for Western Australian public hospitals. A study conducted under the auspice of Australian Health Ministers estimated that 10 per cent of hospital admissions were associated with an adverse event. An adverse event was defined as an unintended injury or complication that results in disability, death or prolongation of hospital stay, and was caused by health care management rather than the patient's disease. The primary data relate to admissions in 1992 to 28 hospitals in New South Wales and South Australia and were originally collected for the Quality in Australian Health Care Study published in 1995. The State Government is concerned at any level of adverse events and is participating with all State and Commonwealth governments in the work of the Australian Council for Safety and Quality in Health Care in addressing issues related to the quality of health care in Australian hospitals.
(5) How many deaths occurred in Western Australian public hospitals during 1998-99 due to medical error? Answered on 18 October 2000 The Minister Replied: (1) The establishment of information and quality systems, including adverse event monitoring, is proceeding in a significant number of health services. A computerised clinical incident monitoring system, which is currently in the process of being purchased, will facilitate better access to relevant data and will be progressively implemented throughout the State. (2) All unexpected deaths in hospitals must be reported. (3) The Coroner. (4) Not applicable. (5) The number of deaths specifically due to medical error is not known for Western Australian public hospitals. A study conducted under the auspice of Australian Health Ministers estimated that 10 per cent of hospital admissions were associated with an adverse event. An adverse event was defined as an unintended injury or complication that results in disability, death or prolongation of hospital stay, and was caused by health care management rather than the patient's disease. The primary data relate to admissions in 1992 to 28 hospitals in New South Wales and South Australia and were originally collected for the Quality in Australian Health Care Study published in 1995. The State Government is concerned at any level of adverse events and is participating with all State and Commonwealth governments in the work of the Australian Council for Safety and Quality in Health Care in addressing issues related to the quality of health care in Australian hospitals.
Answered on 18 October 2000 The Minister Replied: (1) The establishment of information and quality systems, including adverse event monitoring, is proceeding in a significant number of health services. A computerised clinical incident monitoring system, which is currently in the process of being purchased, will facilitate better access to relevant data and will be progressively implemented throughout the State. (2) All unexpected deaths in hospitals must be reported. (3) The Coroner. (4) Not applicable. (5) The number of deaths specifically due to medical error is not known for Western Australian public hospitals. A study conducted under the auspice of Australian Health Ministers estimated that 10 per cent of hospital admissions were associated with an adverse event. An adverse event was defined as an unintended injury or complication that results in disability, death or prolongation of hospital stay, and was caused by health care management rather than the patient's disease. The primary data relate to admissions in 1992 to 28 hospitals in New South Wales and South Australia and were originally collected for the Quality in Australian Health Care Study published in 1995. The State Government is concerned at any level of adverse events and is participating with all State and Commonwealth governments in the work of the Australian Council for Safety and Quality in Health Care in addressing issues related to the quality of health care in Australian hospitals.
(3) If yes, who to? (4) If no, why not? (5) How many deaths occurred in Western Australian public hospitals during 1998-99 due to medical error? Answered on 18 October 2000 The Minister Replied: (1) The establishment of information and quality systems, including adverse event monitoring, is proceeding in a significant number of health services. A computerised clinical incident monitoring system, which is currently in the process of being purchased, will facilitate better access to relevant data and will be progressively implemented throughout the State. (2) All unexpected deaths in hospitals must be reported. (3) The Coroner. (4) Not applicable. (5) The number of deaths specifically due to medical error is not known for Western Australian public hospitals. A study conducted under the auspice of Australian Health Ministers estimated that 10 per cent of hospital admissions were associated with an adverse event. An adverse event was defined as an unintended injury or complication that results in disability, death or prolongation of hospital stay, and was caused by health care management rather than the patient's disease. The primary data relate to admissions in 1992 to 28 hospitals in New South Wales and South Australia and were originally collected for the Quality in Australian Health Care Study published in 1995. The State Government is concerned at any level of adverse events and is participating with all State and Commonwealth governments in the work of the Australian Council for Safety and Quality in Health Care in addressing issues related to the quality of health care in Australian hospitals.
(4) If no, why not? (5) How many deaths occurred in Western Australian public hospitals during 1998-99 due to medical error? Answered on 18 October 2000 The Minister Replied: (1) The establishment of information and quality systems, including adverse event monitoring, is proceeding in a significant number of health services. A computerised clinical incident monitoring system, which is currently in the process of being purchased, will facilitate better access to relevant data and will be progressively implemented throughout the State. (2) All unexpected deaths in hospitals must be reported. (3) The Coroner. (4) Not applicable. (5) The number of deaths specifically due to medical error is not known for Western Australian public hospitals. A study conducted under the auspice of Australian Health Ministers estimated that 10 per cent of hospital admissions were associated with an adverse event. An adverse event was defined as an unintended injury or complication that results in disability, death or prolongation of hospital stay, and was caused by health care management rather than the patient's disease. The primary data relate to admissions in 1992 to 28 hospitals in New South Wales and South Australia and were originally collected for the Quality in Australian Health Care Study published in 1995. The State Government is concerned at any level of adverse events and is participating with all State and Commonwealth governments in the work of the Australian Council for Safety and Quality in Health Care in addressing issues related to the quality of health care in Australian hospitals.
(5) How many deaths occurred in Western Australian public hospitals during 1998-99 due to medical error? Answered on 18 October 2000 The Minister Replied: (1) The establishment of information and quality systems, including adverse event monitoring, is proceeding in a significant number of health services. A computerised clinical incident monitoring system, which is currently in the process of being purchased, will facilitate better access to relevant data and will be progressively implemented throughout the State. (2) All unexpected deaths in hospitals must be reported. (3) The Coroner. (4) Not applicable. (5) The number of deaths specifically due to medical error is not known for Western Australian public hospitals. A study conducted under the auspice of Australian Health Ministers estimated that 10 per cent of hospital admissions were associated with an adverse event. An adverse event was defined as an unintended injury or complication that results in disability, death or prolongation of hospital stay, and was caused by health care management rather than the patient's disease. The primary data relate to admissions in 1992 to 28 hospitals in New South Wales and South Australia and were originally collected for the Quality in Australian Health Care Study published in 1995. The State Government is concerned at any level of adverse events and is participating with all State and Commonwealth governments in the work of the Australian Council for Safety and Quality in Health Care in addressing issues related to the quality of health care in Australian hospitals.
Answered on 18 October 2000 The Minister Replied: (1) The establishment of information and quality systems, including adverse event monitoring, is proceeding in a significant number of health services. A computerised clinical incident monitoring system, which is currently in the process of being purchased, will facilitate better access to relevant data and will be progressively implemented throughout the State. (2) All unexpected deaths in hospitals must be reported. (3) The Coroner. (4) Not applicable. (5) The number of deaths specifically due to medical error is not known for Western Australian public hospitals. A study conducted under the auspice of Australian Health Ministers estimated that 10 per cent of hospital admissions were associated with an adverse event. An adverse event was defined as an unintended injury or complication that results in disability, death or prolongation of hospital stay, and was caused by health care management rather than the patient's disease. The primary data relate to admissions in 1992 to 28 hospitals in New South Wales and South Australia and were originally collected for the Quality in Australian Health Care Study published in 1995. The State Government is concerned at any level of adverse events and is participating with all State and Commonwealth governments in the work of the Australian Council for Safety and Quality in Health Care in addressing issues related to the quality of health care in Australian hospitals.
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