Pitching patient safety and hospital transparency on YouTube

While some experts have warned that the full disclosure approach to medical errors could lead to more lawsuits and higher payouts, the experience of the University of Illinois Medical Center at Chicago suggests otherwise. In 2004, the hospital created a consultation service to help staffers communicate quickly with patients and families about safety incidents; in 2006, that evolved into a policy of full disclosure, apology, and a swift offer of financial compensation. Over the four-year period, the number of lawsuits dropped 40% from the prior five years, and there has been no increase in financial payouts, according to chief safety officer Timothy McDonald.