Targeted interventions reduce med mal costs
A study published in the Journal for Healthcare Quality reports that many huge malpractice awards can be prevented by targeted interventions by healthcare provider organizations to reduce patient safety risks, such as reducing diagnosis errors.1
Despite the impact and influence of large malpractice payouts on healthcare costs, little is known about their specific characteristics and overall cost burden. Researchers at Johns Hopkins Medical Center in Baltimore reviewed all U.S. paid malpractice claims from 2004 to 2010 to identify key risk factors for catastrophic payouts, defined as claims of more than $1million. They represent 8% of all paid malpractice claims.
Results of their review showed that the greatest percentage of catastrophic payouts occur from errors in diagnosis. The authors noted that errors in diagnosis have twice the odds for a catastrophic payout and that health systems should focus more attention on ensuring diagnostic accuracy.
"Factors associated with catastrophic malpractice payouts present opportunities for targeted risk management and quality improvement efforts," says co-author Martin A. Makary, MD, MPH, a surgeon and professor at Johns Hopkins. (For profiles of two cases with catastrophic payouts, see Legal Review & Commentary inserted in this month’s issue.)
The authors concluded that future studies should evaluate targeted interventions to improve patient safety in areas associated with catastrophic malpractice payouts, including efforts to improve diagnostic accuracy.
- 1.Bixenstine PJ, Shore AD, Mehtsun WT, et al. Catastrophic medical malpractice payouts in the United States. J Healthcare Qual 2014; 36(4):43.
