Patients rate quality of care higher when errors are disclosed

A new study conducted at Massachusetts General Hospital shows that patients are more likely to rate hospital care higher when the staff takes  steps to disclose mistakes – an instance that apparently occurs less than half the time.

Only four out of 10 adverse events were disclosed by hospital staff, the survey found. Harm that required additional treatment was more likely to be discussed than other events. Patients were less likely to be told about preventable medical errors than unavoidable problems.

The patients were also asked to rate the quality of their care in the hospital. Patients who were told about adverse events were twice as likely to call their care good or excellent as patients who were not told about them. (boston.com)