Preventable Medical Errors Increase in Indiana

New data released from the Indiana State Department of Health shows that the state has set another record for medical errors.

There were 114 preventable adverse medical incidents in hospitals and health care facilities in 2014. That’s three more than in any of the other eight years since the agency started gathering statistics. Errors have topped 100 in seven of nine years, with the previous high 111 errors in 2013.

The state collects data on 28 preventable incidents. The most common ones last year were 44 instances of pressure ulcers, or bedsores, followed by 27 incidents of foreign objects left in patients after surgeries.

Nine errors were reported at Lutheran Health Network facilities, including five at Lutheran Hospital in Fort Wayne.

Indiana University Health reported nine medical errors at its four hospitals in Indianapolis. Eight errors were reported by St. Vincent Hospital in Indianapolis, seven were reported by Gary’s Methodist Hospital, and five were reported by South Bend’s Memorial Hospital.