According to the Fourth Annual “Patient Safety in American Hospitals Study” released in April of 2007, approximately 250,000 Medicare patient deaths involving medical errors could have been prevented, the study found. 
 

The study tracked 16 patient safety measures over the three-year period. The safety problems with the highest rate of occurrence were decubitus ulcers or bedsores, failure to rescue, and post-operative respiratory failure. Two years ago, President Bush signed the Patient Safety and Quality Improvement Act to help reduce preventable medical errors in healthcare facilities.

 See the study at: www.healthgrades.com/media/dms/pdf/PatientSafetyInAmericanHospitalsStudy2007.pdf