AARP: Medical errors impact 1 in 4

WASHINGTON, March 24 (UPI) -- Twenty-three percent of U.S. patients and their caregivers say they have been the victim of a medical error, a survey indicates.

The survey, part of a larger report, "Chronic Care: A Call to Action for Health Reform," says 21 percent of chronically ill patients felt their healthcare providers did not do a good job communicating with each other and 20 percent said their health had suffered as a result.

"Health spending for an older person with just one chronic disease is more than twice that of a healthy person," John Rother, AARP executive vice president said in a statement.

"Chronic conditions are often preventable, and they take a terrible toll on millions of Americans. Our fragmented healthcare system makes it incredibly difficult for chronically ill patients and their caregivers to get the appropriate care they so desperately need."

The survey also indicates:

-- 26 percent of chronically ill patients say they lack confidence in the healthcare system.

-- 30 percent say their healthcare provider did not have all the necessary information when they arrived.

-- 24 percent received conflicting information from two or more healthcare providers.

-- 16 percent say they received unnecessary medical tests.

AARP conducted two surveys -- one polled Americans age 50 and older with at least one chronic condition, the second poll was of caregivers age 45 and older who provided care. Both surveys were designed by AARP and conducted by Knowledge Networks. No margin of error was given.