Outpatient Adverse Events More Common, Preventable Than Expected

About 7% of people seen in an outpatient setting had at least 1 adverse event, according to findings from about 3100 patients from 11 sites in Massachusetts. The majority of these patients—64%—experienced drug-related adverse events, such as allergic reactions. About 15% of affected patients experienced health care–related infections like urinary tract infections; a similar proportion experienced surgical adverse events, such as serious bleeding.