Healthcare Risk Management – November 1, 2024

Extreme Surgical Error Shows Never Events Still Happen

A stunning surgical error in Florida is a reminder that never events still can happen and underscores the importance of a hospital culture that encourages clinicians to speak up when they suspect something is wrong.

New Patient Safety Initiatives Could Change Standard of Care

New initiatives from the Biden administration could result in improvements to patient safety, but they also may create new compliance burdens and change the standard of care used in malpractices cases.

Report Finds Hospitals Safer Now than Before Pandemic

Hospital and health system performance on key patient safety and quality measures was better in the first quarter of 2024 than before the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a new report from the American Hospital Association.

Hand Hygiene Improving, New Research Finds

Hand hygiene is improving dramatically in U.S. healthcare facilities, according to a new report from The Leapfrog Group. The 2024 Hand Hygiene Report indicates that since Leapfrog began public reporting on hand hygiene in 2020, the percentage of hospitals meeting its rigorous standards has increased from 11% to 74% in 2023

Claims and License Events for Counselors Doubled in Five Years

The number of reported license protection adverse incidents and claims made against counselors to the Board of Professional Counselors has nearly doubled in the last five years, according to a report from Healthcare Providers Service Organization, a division of Aon Affinity. The report indicates that 4,080 reported license protection adverse incidents and claims were made against counselors in the 2024 dataset, compared to 2,082 in the 2019 dataset.

Hospital May Be Held Liable for ‘Independent Contractor’ Surgeon’s Alleged Mistakes

A Texas Appellate Court recently decided that a nonprofit hospital could be held vicariously liable for a botched brain surgery that left a minor permanently disabled. The hospital’s argument that the defendant surgeon was an independent contractor rather than an employee was dismissed by the court. This ruling opens the door for the family of the injured plaintiff, who sued on her behalf, to continue their case against the hospital and doctor and, if successful, seek to hold the hospital responsible for damages.

Minnesota Orthopedic Center Settles Injury Suit Before Second Trial

A settlement has been reached in a high-stakes lawsuit between an orthopedics center and former patient stemming from a 2017 emergency surgery that allegedly led to catastrophic and permanent injuries to the patient’s leg. This settlement comes just before a second trial was set to begin after a jury previously had awarded the patient $110 million in damages — a verdict later vacated by the court for being excessive.