He also chairs the Michigan State Medical Society's board of directors, the state affiliate of the American Medical Association. Two years ago, the AMA and other partners started the National Patient Safety Foundation, which aims to measurably improve patient safety. He also questioned whether another government agency is the best fix. Funding cuts to Medicare and Medicaid, the government health care programs for the elderly and the poor, respectively, have left hospitals in shaky financial states. I would certainly question whether that would increase the probability of having errors.
Regulatory compliance is also expensive.
Dr. Carl Benner, vice president for medical affairs at Munson Healthcare, parent of Munson Medical Center and three other regional hospitals, said about 20 cents of each health care dollar pays for compliance and documentation. Another area targeted by the report is a lack of assessment of health care providers after they get their license. Michigan, however, requires physicians to have 150 hours of continuing education in order to renew their license every three years. Michigan chiropractors, nurses, podiatrists, dentists, registered dental hygienists and assistants also must renew their licenses in two-year cycles. To verify compliance, the state does a random audit of 5 to 7 percent of licensees annually.