Why We Started the Partnership for Patients: Sorrel King’s Story

Twelve years ago, a study came out estimating that as many as 98,000 Americans die every year from preventable medical errors. Despite many successful efforts, this statistic has not improved much in the following decade.

At any given time, about one in every 20 patients has an infection related to their hospital care. On average, one in seven Medicare beneficiaries is harmed in the course of their care.

There is a lot of work to be done to prevent unnecessary harm to patients.

A woman who knows this story all too well is Sorrel King.

In 2001 Sorrel lost her daughter Josie King to preventable medical errors. Since the death of her daughter, she has courageously committed herself to shedding light on the role that medical errors play in thousands of preventable deaths every year in the United States. She has also become a valuable partner in our Partnership for Patients initiative.

The goals of the Partnership for Patients are to make hospital care safer, more reliable, and less costly. We want to keep patients from getting sicker, and help patients heal without complications since patients are often at their most vulnerable when leaving the hospital to continue healing at home, in an assisted living facility, or in another care setting.

Watch Sorrel tell her personal story in the video below and share it with people you know. After you’ve watched the video, join the partnership if you haven’t already. Help us raise public awareness and educate patients, families, and consumers about the importance of making care safer and better coordinated.