"Experts estimate that as many as 98,000 people die in any given year from medical errors that occur in hospitals. That's more than die from motor vehicle accidents, breast cancer, or AIDS - three causes that received far more public attention. Indeed, more people die annually from medication errors alone than from workplace injuries. And, although errors may be more easily detected in hospitals, the problems extend to every healthcare setting, including day surgery and outpatient clinics, retail pharmacies, nursing homes and home care. Add the financial cost of the human tragedy, and medical error easily rises to the top ranks of urgent, widespread health problems."*

*Kohn, Linda T., Corrigan and Donaldson (eds). To Err is Human, Institute of Medicine, 2000

In a follow-up study focusing specifically on medication errors, the Institute of Medicine reported at least 1.5 million preventable adverse drug events (ADEs) occour in the United States each year. The financial impact on the health care industry ranges upward of $3.5 billion a year.**

**Commitee on Identifying and Preventing Medication Errors. Wolcott, Aspden P., Bootman and Cronenwelt (eds) National Academies Press. 2006