[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 32 (Friday, March 12, 2004)]
[Senate]
[Page S2757]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 DESIGNATING THE WEEK OF MARCH 7 THROUGH MARCH 13, 2004, AS ``NATIONAL 
                    PATIENT SAFETY AWARENESS WEEK''

  Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 
proceed to the immediate consideration of S. Res. 320, submitted 
earlier today by Senators Graham of Florida, Snowe, Gregg, and others.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The clerk will state the resolution 
by title.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       A resolution (S. Res. 320) designating the week of March 7 
     through 13, 2004, as ``National Patient Safety Awareness 
     Week.''

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
resolution.
  Mr. GRAHAM of Florida. Mr. President, I am very pleased to introduce 
a resolution to recognize the week of March 7-March 14 as ``National 
Patient Safety Awareness Week'' with my colleagues and friends Senator 
Snowe, Senator Gregg, Senator Dodd and Senator Jeffords.
  We know that patient safety is a paramount health care issue today: a 
1998 Institute of Medicine study shocked us with the fact that nearly 
100,000 Americans die each year from medical errors in our clinical 
settings alone, which highlights both the gravity and emotion 
associated with this complex challenge.
  Some of us have experienced the tragedy of medical error, either 
directly or through a family member or friend. We are not unique; 
estimates show that about one in every 5 Americans has experienced a 
medical error or has a family member who has experienced a medical 
error.
  In addition to the profound emotional cost of these errors, the added 
burden placed on an already overburdened health care system is equally 
profound. The cost of medical care provided to correct an error, and 
the lost wages for those whose recoveries are extended because of 
medical errors is significant. The Institute of Medicine put a price 
tag of between $17 and $29 billion per year on the overall costs to our 
economy and our citizens due to medical errors.
  We can do better; indeed, we must do better. We can strengthen our 
efforts to apply proven safety techniques from other sectors and 
industries that have developed a culture of safety, like the aviation 
industry. By focusing on system changes, significant progress can be 
achieved in making our health care system safer.
  As legislators, we have drafted a range of proposals to address and 
improve the systems factors that lead to medical errors. As we think 
about ways to create a safer health care system, we must continue to 
work with healthcare professionals, patients and their families to 
ensure our healthcare systems place an absolute premium on the safety 
of its patients. In this regard, Senator Snowe and I have introduced a 
bill to reduce medication errors in hospitals and skilled nursing 
facilities. Other cosponsors of this resolution have supported 
legislation that would create a voluntary reporting system. As we 
consider these pieces of legislation, it is important to remember that 
medical errors are a multifaceted problem to which there are multiple 
solutions.
  This resolution addresses another key element in our quest to make 
our health care system safer: that being to fuel the ``power of 
partnership'' between patients, families and healthcare professionals. 
The ``power of partnership'' is the theme of this year's Patient Safety 
Awareness Week, sponsored by the National Patient Safety Foundation. 
Our recognition of National Patient Safety Awareness Week is an 
important addition to our efforts to create a safer health care system 
by promoting increased patient education and highlighting the 
importance of partnership between healthcare providers and patients.

  ``Patient Safety Awareness Week'' deserves the support of the United 
States Congress, and I urge my colleagues to support this Senate 
Resolution. While Patient Safety Awareness Week will not solve all the 
challenges associated with medical errors, it does launch us on a path 
of progress, and brings us one step closer.
  Through a bipartisan partnership we can highlight the importance of 
patient safety and the role of the patient and their families in 
achieving a safer health care system.
  Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the resolution 
and preamble be agreed to en bloc, the motion to reconsider be laid 
upon the table, and that any statements relating thereto be printed in 
the Record as if read, without intervening action or debate.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, it is so 
ordered.
  The resolution (S. Res. 320) was agreed to.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  The resolution, with its preamble, reads as follows:

                              S. Res. 320

       Whereas patient safety is an issue of significant 
     importance to the United States;
       Whereas 1 in every 5 citizens of the United States has 
     experienced a medical error or has a family member who has 
     experienced a medical error;
       Whereas medical errors often have serious and profound 
     consequences;
       Whereas it is estimated that injuries from preventable 
     medical errors cost the United States economy between 
     $17,000,000,000 and $29,000,000,000 each year;
       Whereas more people die annually from medical errors than 
     from automobile accidents, breast cancer, and AIDS;
       Whereas increased patient and provider education and 
     collaboration can help avoid medical errors;
       Whereas the Institute of Medicine has stated that a 
     ``critical component of a comprehensive strategy to improve 
     patient safety is to create an environment that encourages 
     organizations to identify errors, evaluate causes and take 
     appropriate actions to improve performance in the future,'' 
     and further, that ``a more conducive environment is needed to 
     encourage health care professionals and organizations to 
     identify, analyze, and report errors without threat of 
     litigation and without compromising patients' legal rights'';
       Whereas better systems can be implemented to reduce the 
     factors that lead to medical errors;
       Whereas innovative educational and research programs are 
     being conducted by the National Patient Safety Foundation as 
     well as by other public and private entities to develop 
     methods for avoiding preventable injuries and to assess the 
     effectiveness of new techniques to increase patient safety; 
     and
       Whereas education of the public on medical errors and the 
     factors that typically lead to medical errors empowers 
     patients to be more effective partners with health care 
     providers in the battle against preventable injuries from 
     medical errors: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) designates the week of March 7 through March 13, 2004, 
     as ``National Patient Safety Awareness Week''; and
       (2) requests that the President issue a proclamation 
     calling upon the people of the United States to observe the 
     week with appropriate programs and activities.

                          ____________________