Surgical Error Compensation Claims as a Patient Safety Indicator: Causes and Economic Consequences in the Murcia Health System, 2002 to 2018.
| Autor: | Vicente-Guijarro J, Valencia-Martín JL, Fernández-Herreruela C, Sousa P, Mira Solves JJ, Aranaz-Andrés JM |
|---|---|
| Jazyk: | angličtina |
| Zdroj: | Journal of patient safety [J Patient Saf] 2022 Jun 01; Vol. 18 (4), pp. 276-286. Date of Electronic Publication: 2021 Nov 29. |
| DOI: | 10.1097/PTS.0000000000000917 |
| Abstrakt: | Objectives: Compensation claims are a useful source of information on patient safety research. The purpose of this study was to determine the main causes of surgical compensation claims and their financial impact on the health system. Methods: A descriptive observational study with analytical components was carried out on compensation claims brought against the surgical area of the Murcia Health System between 2002 and 2018. We analyzed the frequency, causes, consequences, locations and surgical settings of these claims, the time of judicial procedure, and compensation adjusted to the Consumer Price Index. Results: There were 1172 compensation claims. "orthopedic surgery and traumatology" (27.4%), "gynecology and obstetrics" (25.7%), and "general surgery" (17.2%) were the main surgical settings involved. The most frequent causes were surgical error (42.4%) and treatment error (30.9%). The main sequelae were musculoskeletal (20.0%), neurological (17.7%), and obstetric (17.7%). The average time from incident to resolution of claims was 6.3 years. A total of 20.1% of these claims were successful, particularly those involving retained surgical foreign bodies (71.4% successful claims; P < 0.001). The total compensation paid was €56,338,247 (an average of €17,207 per claim). Compensation was higher in cases with respiratory sequelae (median, 131,600; P = 0.033), death (75,916; P < 0.001), and neurological (60,000; P = 0.024). Conclusions: Compensation claims associated with surgical procedures are made on a variety of grounds. They are drawn-out proceedings, and patients are only successful in 20% of cases. Competing Interests: The authors disclose no conflict of interest. (Copyright © 2021 The Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.) |
| Databáze: | MEDLINE |
| Externí odkaz: |
|