MDH Report: Adverse Health Events Increased in 2022

October 5, 2023

The number of reportable adverse health events in Minnesota hospitals, ambulatory surgical centers and community behavioral health hospitals increased in 2022, according to a recent report from the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH). 

Prior to 2021, the overall number of events had been stable. However, for the second year in a row, MDH observed a rise in the number of incidents. The report notes that this is likely due to ongoing pandemic-related effects that continue to be felt across the state’s healthcare system. 

Minnesota’s mandatory adverse health event reporting system includes 29 often preventable errors that could lead to serious injury or death. The goal of the system is to balance quality improvement with accountability, while developing opportunities for providers to learn from each other about how to prevent adverse events. 

As in years past, pressure ulcers and falls were the most common events reported. Pressure ulcers, which can sometimes be associated with longer stays, drove most of the overall increase noted in the report, while falls decreased slightly compared to 2021. 

The report is an analysis of data collected from healthcare providers from October 7, 2021, to October 6, 2022. It includes a total of 572 events, up from the 508 recorded in 2021 and 190 more than the 383 events reported in 2020. And though the data showed a drop in the number of serious injuries, the 21 reported deaths are the most since 2006, when 24 deaths were recorded.