Surgery News - December 2008 - (Page 9) DECEMBER 2008 • SURGERY NEWS OPINION tients.” There was no criticism of surgical competency in this article, and the incidence of potentially preventable events was just 2.6%—hardly an indictment. So we should have provided a clearer headline in the SURGERY NEWS article. The hard facts are that costs must be controlled, and surgeons should be part of the solution. System errors are frustrating, but they present us with an opportunity to prevent recurrences. Denial of valid data is counterproductive, and will not convince payers and regulators. Just as we accept credit for good outcomes, we should be responsible for improving the quality of care throughout the experience. 9 LETTERS Wrong Impression I was quite upset by the headline, “Preventable Surgical Errors Cost $1.5 Billion Annually” (September 2008, p. 11). The article would have you believe that most surgeons in this country are hacks, leaving instruments in patients daily and amputating wrong limbs every other week. The facts would show that nursing and medical care in the postoperative period, and hospital errors—not surgical errors—are the real problem. A report released by the Institute of Medicine a few years ago was the start of pointing blame at surgeons. But a careful review of this article shows that hospital practices were the root of the problem. The surgeons I’ve known over the past 38 years have been extremely well trained, motivated, and hardworking. The last thing they want is for their patients to have complications. To imply that they are routinely making boneheaded errors that are costing billions is an obscenity. The editors of SURGERY NEWS have a duty to present the truth about the sacrifices surgeons make each day. Allowing this kind of attack journalism to be printed in this newspaper is unconscionable. Barry R. Ellman, M.D., FACS Edison, N.J. Is ‘Preventable Surgical Error’ an Oxymoron? Most of the preventable surgical errors listed in this article are neither preventable nor errors. These things happen when you operate on people with some preexisting medical condition. The only preventable surgical error listed on the chart accompanying the article would be technical problems, and even at that, not all are actual errors. To make surgeons accountable for complications after surgery that are unrelated to any technical factors in the OR is unjustifiable. If you are going to fault me for respiratory failure in someone with a history of COPD and smoking, I will have to tell that patient, “I cannot do your surgery; you will have to go elsewhere,” because those preexisting conditions will be categorized as a surgical error, and I’ll be responsible for treating the ensuing complications. Robert N. Gallinaro, M.D. Ocala, Fla. Dr. Lazar J. Greenfield, editor in chief of SURGERY NEWS, replies: Dr. Ellman and Dr. Gallinaro were offended by our article, which highlighted some of the points made in a Health Services Research article titled, “The Impact of Medical Errors on 90-Day Costs and Outcomes: An Analysis of Surgical Pa- LETTERS TO THE EDITOR SURGERY NEWS is your publication, and we’re eager to share your opinions. Please send correspondence, including your name and address, to surgerynews@facs.org or to: American College of Surgeons Communications Office 633 N. St. Clair St. Chicago, IL 60611-3211 Letters may be edited for space and clarity. ews More N t a is jus ay! w click a See the Exclusive Online Edition at www.facs.org Go to Periodicals, then SURGERY NEWS to learn about new benefits of surgery for bariatric and cancer patients. http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/elsevier/sn0908/index.php?startid=11 http://www.gistalliance.com http://www.gistalliance.com http://www.facs.org
Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Surgery News - December 2008 Surgery News - December 2008 Contents The 20/20 Vision: Health Reform News From the College: Nominations Thoracic: Breathing Easier Postop Management: Renal Failure Surgery News - December 2008 Surgery News - December 2008 - Contents (Page 1) Surgery News - December 2008 - Contents (Page 2) Surgery News - December 2008 - Contents (Page 3) Surgery News - December 2008 - Contents (Page 4) Surgery News - December 2008 - Contents (Page 5) Surgery News - December 2008 - The 20/20 Vision: Health Reform (Page 6) Surgery News - December 2008 - The 20/20 Vision: Health Reform (Page 7) Surgery News - December 2008 - The 20/20 Vision: Health Reform (Page 8) Surgery News - December 2008 - The 20/20 Vision: Health Reform (Page 9) Surgery News - December 2008 - News From the College: Nominations (Page 10) Surgery News - December 2008 - News From the College: Nominations (Page 11) Surgery News - December 2008 - Thoracic: Breathing Easier (Page 12) Surgery News - December 2008 - Thoracic: Breathing Easier (Page 13) Surgery News - December 2008 - Thoracic: Breathing Easier (Page 14) Surgery News - December 2008 - Thoracic: Breathing Easier (Page 15) Surgery News - December 2008 - Postop Management: Renal Failure (Page 16) Surgery News - December 2008 - Postop Management: Renal Failure (Page 17) Surgery News - December 2008 - Postop Management: Renal Failure (Page 18) Surgery News - December 2008 - Postop Management: Renal Failure (Page 19) Surgery News - December 2008 - Postop Management: Renal Failure (Page 20)
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