Illinois Governor Proposes Electronic Prescribing, Other Programs To Cut Down On Medical Errors

Main Category: Primary Care / General Practice
Also Included In: Public Health
Article Date: 20 Jul 2006 - 23:00 PDT

email to a friend   printer friendly   view / write opinions   rate article

Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich (D) last week proposed a number of measures intended to reduce the more than 4,000 Illinois deaths that result from medical errors each year, the AP/Chicago Tribune reports (Keith, AP/Chicago Tribune, 7/13). According to CongressDaily, Balgojevich issued an executive order creating the Division of Patient Safety within the Illinois Department of Public Health to consolidate Illinois' efforts to reduce medical errors (CongressDaily, 7/17). Blagojevich also proposed focusing on medical practices known to reduce medical errors and creating a voluntary computer prescription program to help doctors avoid making pharmacy errors. He hopes to have the prescription program in place within the next five years. In addition, Blagojevich proposed creating a statewide medical record database, expanding broadband technology for rural health care facilities and improving online databases so patients can access doctor and nursing home information. None of the changes require legislative approval (Keith, AP/Chicago Tribune, 7/13). Blagojevich said, "Knowing that the medicine we receive is the right one, and knowing that we've addressed the common causes of medical errors means peace of mind for doctors, for nurses, for pharmacists, for hospitals, and, most importantly, it means peace of mind, and better care, for all of us." According to CongressDaily, the proposed initiative comes a year after Illinois passed a law putting a cap on the amount of noneconomic damages patients can win in malpractice suits. Rep. John Fritchey (D-Ill.), said, "While laudable, nothing in this mitigates the rights that we're taking away in the malpractice legislation" (CongressDaily, 7/17).

"Reprinted with permission from http://www.kaisernetwork.org. You can view the entire Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report, search the archives, or sign up for email delivery at http://www.kaisernetwork.org/dailyreports/healthpolicy. The Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report is published for kaisernetwork.org, a free service of The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation . © 2005 Advisory Board Company and Kaiser Family Foundation. All rights reserved.