More Americans experiencing medical mismanagement

A new Consumer Reports poll finds that 18 percent of Americans say they or an immediate family member have acquired a dangerous infection following a medical procedure and more than one-third report that medical errors are common in everyday medical procedures.

"Healthcare-acquired infections and medical errors can devastate American families who are already struggling with the cost of health care,” said Consumers Union President Jim Guest. “These preventable errors and infections can cost families hundreds—if not thousands—of extra dollars each year, and add tens of billions of dollars to our national health care costs. It is imperative that Congress pass health care reform legislation that includes simple safety provisions to help save lives and fix our broken health care system."

The new poll was released in conjunction with a Congressional briefing on health care delivery system reform with the American Cancer Society, American Diabetes Association and the American Heart Association. The poll was performed March 12-16, 2009, and interviewed more than 2,000 adults on issues such as acquired infections, medical errors, and preventive care.

Bonnie - we hear it every day from clients as well as experienced it first-hand with my daughter Carolyn