Abstract

[This abstract is based on the authors' abstract.] Reducing medical errors is the major issue facing hospitals today. It has been estimated that medical errors can be linked to more than one million injuries and about 98,000 deaths each year, resulting in a total national cost of $37.6 billion. Through previous research and the literature, seven potential factors have been identified as critical to reducing hospital errors. A research framework is developed and validated for the purpose of reducing these errors. The framework is evaluated and tested in a multicase study of hospitals in Illinois. The study also evaluates how hospitals currently manage errors, identifies other possible factors and potential obstacles to the implementation of these factors. Practical guidance is provided for administrators attempting to develop better systems to reduce medical errors. Study results contribute significantly to operations safety and could have major implications to patient safety in the future.