Dutch hospitals planning for more openness

THE HAGUE – Dutch hospitals plan to create more openness with the release of the rate and causes of deaths of patients while under their care. The hospitals aim to release such information once they all use the same criteria so the information can be compared. Seven hospitals already post such data. The hospitals are also upgrading safety protocols so the number (1700) of ‘unnecessary’ deaths can be brought down. Part of the goal is to offer patients the choice of where they will be treated, based on specialization. Minister Ab Klink welcomes the initiatives.