The Quaid Foundation: Reducing Medical Errors & Improving Patient Safety
A Personal Tragedy that Sparked Action
In November 2007, Dennis Quaid and his then-wife, Kimberly Buffington, welcomed their twins, Thomas and Zoe, into the world. Unfortunately, the twins were born prematurely and developed staph infections when they were just 10 days old. They were admitted to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center for treatment. What happened next would change the course of Quaid's life forever.
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During their stay at the hospital, both Thomas and Zoe were accidentally given 1,000 times the recommended dose of the blood thinner heparin. The medication error prevented the twins from forming blood clots, which caused them to bleed excessively from any open wounds. For 11 agonizing days, the twins fought for their lives in the intensive care unit. Fortunately, they made a full recovery, but the incident exposed a critical issue in the healthcare system: medical errors can, and do, happen—even in prestigious hospitals.
Quaid and his wife were understandably outraged and confused by the error, but they soon discovered that their case was not an isolated incident. In fact, just a year earlier, three infants in an Indianapolis hospital had died from an identical heparin overdose. Baxter Healthcare Corporation, the manufacturer of the drug, had recognized that the packaging of the 10,000-unit heparin dose closely resembled the packaging of the 10-unit dose (Hep-Lock), which had contributed to the fatal overdoses. Although Baxter changed their packaging in 2006, they did not recall the doses that were already on the market with the old packaging.
The Quaid family sued Baxter Healthcare Corporation for the error and received a $750,000 settlement in 2008. But for Quaid, this was not the end of the story. This incident became the catalyst for his ongoing mission to reduce medical errors and promote patient safety.
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The Birth of The Quaid Foundation
Galvanized by the near-fatal medical error that had affected his children, Dennis Quaid became a vocal advocate for patient safety. He recognized that his personal story could bring attention to the systemic issues in healthcare, where thousands of people die each year due to preventable medical errors. Shocked by the statistics—healthcare harm is the third leading cause of death in the United States—Quaid set out to find solutions.
In 2008, he founded The Quaid Foundation, a non-profit organization with a clear mission: to reduce medical mistakes and improve patient safety across the healthcare system. His foundation quickly became a prominent voice in the patient safety movement. That same year, Quaid testified before Congress on the issue, using his personal experience to highlight the magnitude of healthcare harm and the urgent need for reform.
One of Quaid’s key messages was the importance of investing in healthcare technology to minimize errors. He advocated for the adoption of technologies like bedside bar-coding, smart infusion pumps, electronic medical records, and automated infection tracking systems. These technologies, he believed, could help prevent the types of mistakes that nearly claimed the lives of his twins. He also emphasized the importance of simple, inexpensive measures, such as checklists, to ensure that medical protocols are followed correctly and consistently.
Merging with the Texas Medical Institute of Technology (TMIT)
In 2010, Quaid took another step forward in his advocacy by merging The Quaid Foundation with the Texas Medical Institute of Technology (TMIT). TMIT is a non-profit organization dedicated to improving healthcare safety by testing and implementing new medical systems and technologies. By joining forces with TMIT, Quaid expanded his reach and influence within the patient safety movement.
Together, Quaid and TMIT produced a powerful documentary titled Chasing Zero: Winning the War on Healthcare Harm. Narrated by Quaid, the documentary provides a gripping look at the devastating effects of medical errors and offers concrete solutions to prevent them. It explores real-life stories of individuals and families affected by healthcare harm, including Quaid’s own experience, and emphasizes the role of technology in reducing errors. The documentary aired on the Discovery Channel and was distributed widely to hospitals, healthcare organizations, and policymakers across the country.
In Chasing Zero, Quaid calls for an ambitious but attainable goal: zero harm in healthcare. He believes that achieving zero harm is not only possible but necessary, and he encourages healthcare institutions to adopt the National Quality Forum for Safe Practices as a road map for reducing medical errors. According to Quaid, personal stories are crucial to driving change, as they humanize the statistics and motivate action.
The Importance of Technology in Healthcare
One of the core tenets of Quaid’s advocacy is the belief that technology is a powerful tool in preventing medical errors. He has repeatedly stressed that many of the healthcare errors that lead to patient harm are preventable with the right systems in place. Technologies such as bar-code scanning, which ensures that the correct medications are administered to patients, or electronic medical records, which reduce the likelihood of human error, are proven to improve patient outcomes.
For example, in the case of the heparin overdose that affected Quaid’s twins, the use of bar-code scanning technology could have prevented the incorrect dosage from being administered. Similarly, smart infusion pumps can control the flow of medications with greater precision, reducing the risk of overdoses. Quaid has urged hospitals to invest in these technologies to protect patients and reduce the staggering number of preventable deaths caused by medical errors each year.
While the cost of implementing these technologies may be a concern for some healthcare providers, Quaid argues that the long-term benefits far outweigh the initial investment. Not only do these technologies save lives, but they also reduce the financial burden of malpractice lawsuits, patient readmissions, and extended hospital stays due to medical errors.
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The Legacy of The Quaid Foundation
Although Dennis Quaid is no longer as visible in the patient safety movement as he was in the years following the heparin overdose incident, his commitment to the cause remains strong. Today, Quaid continues to be involved in philanthropy and community giving, and his work with TMIT has left a lasting impact on healthcare safety. His efforts have raised awareness about the importance of reducing medical errors and have helped to drive the adoption of safer practices in hospitals across the country.
The Quaid Foundation may have merged with TMIT, but its mission lives on in the work being done to promote healthcare safety and prevent avoidable harm. Quaid’s advocacy has inspired countless healthcare professionals, policymakers, and patients to demand safer, more reliable care. His message is clear: no patient should have to suffer the consequences of a preventable medical error, and achieving zero harm is an achievable goal.
Dennis Quaid’s journey from a personal tragedy to becoming a passionate advocate for patient safety is a testament to the power of turning adversity into positive change. The Quaid Foundation has played a significant role in raising awareness about medical errors and advocating for the use of technology to prevent them. Through his collaboration with TMIT and the documentary Chasing Zero, Quaid has helped to shine a spotlight on a critical issue in healthcare and has inspired others to join the fight for safer patient care.
Although his twins, Thomas and Zoe, have since made a full recovery, Quaid’s experience continues to fuel his dedication to improving the healthcare system. His message resonates with patients and healthcare professionals alike: investing in technology, adopting safer practices, and striving for zero harm in healthcare is not only necessary but within reach.
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