Question

Patient safety became a major issue in healthcare in 1999 at the state and federal levels, due in part to a report by the Institute of Medicine about medication errors. True or False?

Answer 1

True, patient safety became a prominent issue following the 1999 IOM report focused on medication errors. This led to policy changes to increase safety and implement efficiency measures in healthcare. The FDA regulates drug safety, balancing protection against the delay of drug availability.

Step-by-step explanation:

The statement that patient safety became a major issue in healthcare in 1999 at the state and federal levels due in part to a report by the Institute of Medicine about medication errors is true. The 1999 Institute of Medicine (IOM) report, titled "To Err Is Human: Building a Safer Health System," brought significant attention to the issue of patient safety, particularly concerning medication errors. This report acted as a catalyst for changes in healthcare policy and practice to improve patient safety across various medical settings.

With the United States dealing with an aging and less healthy population, the demand for healthcare services saw a significant increase. This demand led to consolidation among providers, known as "hospital merger mania" in the 1990s, and the adoption of efficiency and standardization methods like telemedicine and artificial intelligence. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) plays a vital role in regulating the safety and efficacy of medications, which involves extensive testing before drugs can be marketed. While this system protects patients from unsafe drugs, it may also result in prolonged wait times for drug approval, affecting patients in need of innovative treatments.