Florida hospitals and surgeons have kicked off a new effort to find and prevent system problems that cause needless complications from surgery. The $800,000 program will try to find even simple errors that cause patients to develop infections and other problems that keep them in the hospital longer or force them to return with relapses. The project will be sponsored by the Florida Hospital Association and the state chapter of the American College of Surgeons. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Florida is paying half the cost; hospitals will pay the rest.
