[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 50 (Thursday, April 7, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E663]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    THE IMPORTANCE OF PATIENT SAFETY

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                       HON. JAIME HERRERA BEUTLER

                             of washington

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 7, 2011

  Ms. HERRERA BEUTLER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to promote increased 
awareness about patient safety and a higher quality of health care in 
our country. According to the 1999 Institute of Medicine report, more 
than 98,000 patients die annually from medical errors that occur in the 
hospital. The HealthGrades analysis of patient safety published in 2009 
stated that almost 100,000 preventable deaths occurred annually in 
Medicare patients from 2005 to 2007. Based on these findings, patient 
safety has not improved in almost a decade.
  All of us have either been patients or know someone who has been a 
patient, and we expect our loved ones to receive excellent patient 
care. Recently, I had the opportunity to meet with a nurse from 
Vancouver, Washington, who shared the touching story regarding the 
death of her father. Kristi Victoria Goodwin told me about her father 
Kenneth Edgar Anderson, who died from multiple preventable medical 
errors.
  Mr. Anderson, a 55 year old, went to his doctor after experiencing 
chest pains while riding his bicycle. The doctor ordered cardiac 
testing, but, unfortunately, Mr. Anderson was never notified that his 
cardiac tests were abnormal. Based on his cardiac tests, Mr. Anderson 
should have received a cardiology consult, further cardiac testing, and 
based on his autopsy results, he would have been a candidate for open 
heart surgery. Instead, almost three months after his cardiac workup 
was completed, Mr. Anderson died from sudden cardiac death while riding 
his bicycle.
  I ask my colleagues to join me in thanking Kristi for coming to D.C. 
to share this personal story to illustrate the importance of the issue 
of patient safety. I also ask that you join me in promoting patient 
safety and improving the quality of health care in this country.-

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