A new not-for-profit, statewide organization aimed at strengthening hospital-based patient safety and quality improvement activities has been launched by the California Hospital Association (CHA) and the three affiliated Regional Associations.

In reviewing 25 years of U.S. malpractice claim payouts, Johns Hopkins researchers found that diagnostic errors — not surgical mistakes or medication overdoses — accounted for the largest fraction of claims, the most severe patient harm, and the highest total of penalty payouts. Diagnosis-related payments amounted to $38.8 billion between 1986 and 2010, they found.