Adverse Events at Mayo Clinic Hospitals Blamed for 10 Serious Injuries

St. Paul, MN (KROC-AM News) - An annual report from the Minnesota Department of Health shows there were 336 adverse health events reported by hospitals and surgical centers in the state during the 12 month period that ended last October.

Those adverse events resulted in 106 serious injuries and 4 deaths. The report notes the number of serious injuries has been fairly steady, while the number of deaths declined significantly when compared to the previous four years. Pressure ulcers and falls accounted for almost 60 percent of the total number of adverse events, with pressure ulcers leading the way at 129 incidents.

A total of 38 adverse events were reported by St. Mary’s and Methodist Hospitals in Rochester. None of the events resulted in deaths at the Mayo Clinic facilities, but there were eight serious injuries attributed to falls, one serious injury blamed on the failure to follow up or communicate test results, and another caused by the misuse or malfunction of a device.

The most common adverse event reported by the Mayo Clinic hospitals was pressure ulcers. There were 14, but none resulted in serious injuries or deaths. There were 5 incidents involving the wrong surgical/invasive procedure, and 3 involving surgeries or other invasive procedures on the wrong body part.

Throughout the Mayo Clinic Health System, a total of 13 adverse health events were reported by hospitals in Austin, Albert Lea, Mankato, and Cannon Falls, including five that resulted in serious injuries.