Medical errors are the third leading cause of death in the U.S. Unfortunately, medical errors are more frequent in the U.S. than in other industrialized, high-income countries. Hospital Watchdog is a nonprofit working to make U.S. hospitals a safer place for patients. 

We publish reports based on administrative law rulings from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. These rulings, called “Summary Statements of Deficiencies,” provide detailed evidence of a hospital’s failure to comply with federal law, (CMS regulations). These reports require hospitals to correct their deficiencies or suffer loss of financial support. For most hospitals, CMS financial support constitutes a sizable portion of revenue.

A patient or family member may file a complaint with the State Department of Health about an adverse or fatal event in a hospital. Acting on behalf of CMS, the Department of Health may send an unannounced team of “nurse surveyors” to investigate the complaint. The resulting report is the Summary Statement of Deficiencies.

In addition to the federal reports, Hospital Watchdog often obtains civil court records and exhibits that illuminate CMS findings more fully. These records may include medical records, death certificates, and depositions taken under oath.

To evaluate the reports, Hospital Watchdog has a Board of Advisors that includes patient advocates, nurses, physicians, attorneys, retired government oversight specialists, and other medical specialists. These experts contribute to Hospital Watchdog’s understanding of a Summary Statement of Deficiencies and its implications. 

Shining a bright light on a hospital’s egregious deficiencies encourages hospitals to make a safer environment for patients.