The number of preventable deaths reported in 2007 in New Jersey went up by 30 from two years ago. But state officials are saying that this is actually good news.
The number went up to 72, from only 42 in 2006, but the state's Department of Health and Senior Services says that it looks like the increase is not from many more people dying of adverse events, but rather from more hospitals reporting said adverse events.
The Patient Safety Act report also said that 456 hospitals reported adverse events in 2007, a number that has been going up every year since the act was passed in 2005.
To learn more about the report:
- read this Newsday piece