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Sentinel event alert issued on preventing maternal deaths
NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted Feb. 15, 2010
The Joint Commission on Jan. 26 published a sentinel event alert to hospitals on preventing maternal deaths. Common preventable errors include failing to adequately diagnose and treat pulmonary edema in women with preeclampsia and lax attention to vital signs after cesarean section, the alert said.
Eighty-four maternal death cases have been reported to the Joint Commission since 1996. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimated in 2006 that the maternal mortality rate is 13.3 deaths per 100,000 live births. The Joint Commission suggested that doctors and hospitals take steps such as identifying triggers for responding to vital sign changes.
The alert is available online (link).
Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2010/02/15/prbf0215.htm.
