David Wells Senior Web Producer

5:55 p.m. MDT, June 29, 2009
SALT LAKE CITY—
In 2001, the Utah Department of Health began tracking "sentinel events," or unexpected outcomes following surgery. Sentinel events include post-operative deaths, strokes, heart attacks and medical mistakes. Seven sentinel events were tracked that year. In 2008, 89 sentinel events were recorded, and the much higher number is attributed to the better, more thorough reporting that began in 2007. The Utah Department of Health is now working to streamline procedures to reduce human errors in local operating rooms.

FOX 13's Candice Gale reports.
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