Quality is defined as meeting or exceeding the needs and expectations. The recipients of healthcare expect the healthcare delivery ninety-nine percent defect-free quality, i.e. one error in a thousand seems to be a high standard and close to the flawless performance. Yet, at a 99.9% “quality” level our heart fails to beat 32,000 times each year.
In the medical profession, there is no scope for error as any error means all the difference between life and death, relief and disability, and cure and morbidity. Lack of large scale studies in India indicates that our healthcare system is facing a medical crisis of epidemic proportions. Preventable medical errors and hospital acquired infections are shockingly prevalent in all hospitals affecting all patients, regardless of age, gender or financial resources. Physicians need to continue monitoring potential errors and apply tools to evaluate…
