Dr. Cari Oliver founded the non-profit organization PatientAlwaysFirst, a 501(c)(3), in 2004. In 2009, the Cautious Patient Foundation was developed as the outreach and educational arm of PatientAlwaysFirst. Since then the Cautious Patient Foundation has been dedicated to empowering patients to participate in their own healthcare in order to reduce medical mistakes and negligence. Many studies show that the quality of healthcare in the United States is mediocre. Both patients and doctors are frustrated. It is a huge undertaking for the healthcare system to make the changes that are needed to improve care – like turning a huge ship. Fortunately, when the patient participates in his or her healthcare, changes for the better can occur immediately.
The Foundation educates patients and provides them with innovative tools to be their own best advocates for better healthcare. It assists patients and care givers with effective strategies to get the care they need and deserve.
There are a significant number of deaths each year in U.S. hospitals from preventable medical errors. In fact each year at least 98,000 people die in hospitals due to preventable medical errors; and 99,000 more U.S. patients die from infections they acquire in the hospital. The United States loses more American lives to patient safety incidents in six months than it did in the entire Vietnam War. This also is the equivalent to crashing three jumbo jets every other day for five years.
If the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recognized medical errors as a cause of death in its annual report entitled, “National Vital Statistics,” medical errors would be ranked as the sixth leading cause of death in the U.S. – outranking deaths from diabetes, flu and pneumonia, Alzheimer’s disease and renal disease.
Even with these problems at epidemic proportions, patients are often intimidated by physicians and the healthcare system. Many times patients simply don’t feel empowered, confident or safe questioning their medical providers about their care and course of treatment.
The Cautious Patient Foundation sets the standard for people looking for information about how to manage their care. It allows patients to be more collaborative with their care givers and healthcare providers.
