Medical errors carry hidden costs for veterinary hospitals

Medical errors at veterinary hospitals carry a larger operational and financial burden than many teams account for, according to a February 19, 2026 article from Instinct Science written by Leonie Carter, DVM. The company argues that the biggest costs often come after the event, not at the moment of the mistake, through unplanned make-goods, invoice write-offs, added labor, and erosion of client trust. The piece also frames patient-safety tools in electronic medical records, including dose alerts, embedded drug guidance, digital treatment sheets, and audit trails, as a way to catch errors earlier in workflow. Broader veterinary safety literature supports the underlying concern: one teaching hospital study cited by Instinct found 5.3 errors per 1,000 patient visits, and ACVIM education materials note that medical errors and adverse events can be common in practice, with many hospitals lacking formal safety committees or structured follow-up. (instinct.vet)

Why it matters: For veterinary professionals, this is a reminder that patient safety isn't only a quality initiative, it's a practice-management issue. FDA guidance encourages reporting veterinary medication errors, including near misses, because those reports can help identify preventable risks. Industry commentary from AAHA and Today’s Veterinary Nurse also points to the same systems lesson: teams need to talk more openly about error, reduce blame, strengthen communication, and build reporting processes that turn mistakes and near misses into workflow improvements. (fda.gov)

What to watch: Expect more emphasis on safety culture, error reporting, and workflow-based safeguards, especially as hospitals evaluate whether their software and handoff processes are helping prevent mistakes or simply documenting them after the fact. (instinct.vet)