Your Hospital May Be Hazardous To Your Health
As part of our ongoing investigation into patient safety, ProPublica reporters Marshall Allen and Olga Pierce produced this interactive story in collaboration with PBS Frontline and Ocupop during a May 11-16 hackathon.
How You Can Help ProPublica Investigate Health Care Quality
Join the patient safety conversation, get regular updates and analysis and contribute to our ongoing reporting. More »
Why Patient Harm Is One of the Leading Causes of Death in America
Dr. Marty Makary, author of the new book, "Unaccountable," explains why patient harm persists and what can be done about it. More »
What a New Doctor Learned About Medical Mistakes From Her Mom's Death
Dr. Elaine Goodman says hospital culture has to embrace the notion that reporting and tracking medical errors are a positive, not punitive, step: “It’s not enough just to have caring, qualified people to keep the patient safe.”More »
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updates since last visitThe Story Behind Our Hospital Interactive
In a five-day hackathon, ProPublica and PBS Frontline team up to create an interactive story exploring six myths about hospitals and patient safety.
Your Hospital May Be Hazardous To Your Health
As part of our ongoing investigation into patient safety, ProPublica reporters Marshall Allen and Olga Pierce produced this interactive story in collaboration with PBS Frontline and Ocupop during a May 11-16 hackathon.
Discussion: How to Improve Accountability in Medicine?
An estimated 1 million or more patients are harmed in America's hospitals every year. Join doctors and patient safety advocates for a discussion on accountability and spurring improvement.
When Harm in the Hospital Follows You Home
It's estimated that more than a million people per year suffer infections, medical mistakes and other harm in the hospital. But even if patients are lucky enough to physically recover, their lives may never be the same.
A Journalist Explains How To Get Your Story Heard
Several people have expressed frustration that the media hasn't told their story. Here's our tips on how to get your story heard.
A Patient’s Guide: How To Stay Safe In a Hospital
Checklists have become more common in the operating room. Now, there’s one for patients and families, too.
When Doctors Feel Pain After a Medical Mistake
Doctors are often referred to as the "second victim" of a medical error. We want to hear about it.
What a New Doctor Learned About Medical Mistakes From Her Mom’s Death
Dr. Elaine Goodman says hospital culture has to embrace the notion that reporting and tracking medical errors are a positive, not punitive, step: “It’s not enough just to have caring, qualified people to keep the patient safe.”
How You Can Help ProPublica Cover Patient Safety
More than 1,300 people — patients, doctors, nurses — have joined our Facebook group to debate causes and solutions to the problem of patients being harmed while receiving care.
How We Used Facebook to Power Our Investigation Into Patient Harm
A typical investigation often takes months before a story is published. We used a slightly different approach.
Resource: Three Ways To Tell Your Patient Harm Story
People often tell us they wish a journalist would tell their story. We can’t get to every one – but there are ways to tell your story on your own.
New York’s Ongoing Blackout: Hospitals in Lower Manhattan
There is no firm timetable on the return of some of New York's largest hospitals. And concern is rising that the patchwork system can't last for long.
NYU Hospital’s Backup System Undone by Key Part in Flooded Basement
Hospital official explains how move to rooftop generators failed to prevent failure of backup power during Hurricane Sandy
In Hurricane’s Wake, Decisions Not to Evacuate Hospitals Raise Questions
Lessons learned in previous disasters help avert immediate catastrophe, yet, as a reporter looks on, health officials struggle to deal with glitches and unforeseen dangers.
Why Do Hospital Generators Keep Failing?
The power failure at New York University Langone Medical Center during Hurricane Sandy shows that hospitals still may not be doing enough to prepare for disasters.
What Are Top Patient Safety Challenges Facing Providers?
Medical professionals: we want to know what you think the top patient safety challenges are.
What a Failed Vegas Sex Pill and The Meningitis Outbreak Have In Common
Drugs produced at ‘compounding’ pharmacies — like the steroids suspected of 15 meningitis deaths — are exempt from the safety checks that mass-produced pharmaceuticals receive.
Are High-Volume Dental Chains Exploiting Kids on Medicaid?
As part of our ongoing interest in patient safety, we occasionally interview other journalists who’ve examined health care quality.
Have You Been Harmed in a Medical Facility?
If you or a loved one has suffered patient harm, you can help inform and guide our reporting by filling out our questionnaire.
Why Patients Don’t Report Medical Errors
Patient safety flaws remain hidden if no one finds out about them. Now, a federal health care quality agency is planning a new effort to encourage disclosure of medical mistakes.
Discover The Quality of Nursing Homes Near You
Easily search nursing home inspection reports nationwide, with our updated app.
Providers: Tell Us What You Know About Patient Safety
Share your expertise with reporters Olga Pierce and Marshall Allen.
How You Can Help ProPublica Investigate Health Care Quality
Be part of the patient safety conversation, get regular updates and share stories or views
Resource: What To Do If You’ve Suffered Harm
Six recommended steps to take if you've suffered harm in a medical facility.
A Costly Equation: Medical Dollars Wasted Are Greater Than the U.S. Defense Budget
New report analyzes the cost of medical waste in America.
Resource: Dealing With The Media
A patient safety advocate shares lessons she’s learned about journalism with others who have suffered medical harm.
Why Patient Harm Is One of the Leading Causes of Death in America
In his new book, surgeon Marty Makary gives his thoughts on why patient harm persists, and what to do about it. He sat down with us for a Q&A.
Resource: Finding Unexpected Allies
How a mother whose child died from medical error moved beyond her pain to protect other patients.
Author: Health Care Reform Is No Solution to Patient Harm
Patient safety advocate Rosemary Gibson thinks the too-big-to-fail health care industry lacks accountability and a forceful mandate to improve.
Join ProPublica’s Patient Harm Community
A space for patients, families, medical providers and other journalists to connect, share their stories and learn.
Contact Us
Marshall Allen, Reporter
@marshall_allen
Marshall.Allen@propublica.org
Charles Ornstein, Reporter
@charlesornstein
Charles.Ornstein@propublica.org
Tracy Weber, Reporter
@tracyweber
Tracy.Weber@propublica.org
Olga Pierce, Reporter
@olgapierce
Olga.Pierce@propublica.org
Blair Hickman, Community Manager
@amandablair
Blair.Hickman@propublica.org
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Share Your Story
Your input can help ProPublica's reporting.
Have you worked in health care? Tell us what you’ve observed about patient safety.
Have you or a loved one been harmed? Tell us about it.
Join the Discussion
Join the over 1,500 members of ProPublica's Patient Harm Group to learn, share your story and connect with others.
Icon graphics courtesy of the Noun Project.
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