Impact of Malpractice Claims Outcome Analysis on Patient Safety
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- Category: Vol. 93, March 2025
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Impact of Malpractice Claims Outcome Analysis on Patient Safety, AHMED A.A.M. SAAD, YASSER BORIEK and MOHAMED ABDEL SALAM
Abstract
Background: Medical error data can be found in medical malpractice claim files, which is a valuable resource. A deeper comprehension of the allegations could therefore provide light on their root causes and aid in their prevention. Aim of Study: The overarching objective of this study is to determine the underlying causes of events which is crucial to preventing their occurrence in the future and to develop a model to be used to improve patient safety and decrease med ical errors. Material and Methods: A retrospective review study will be conducted by reviewing files of closed malpractice claims which had been received and investigated by the medical liabil ity committee in the years 2017 to 2022. The extracted data in cluded: Claim/complaint statement, involved Healthcare staff/ specialty, cases’ outcomes, and litigations’ outcomes (medi cal liability committee decision report). Inclusion criteria: All closed malpractice claims cases (total population) which had been received and investigated by the medical liability com mittee in the years 2017 to 2022. Exclusion criteria: All open malpractice claims cases that were not yet investigated by the medical liability committee in the years 2017 to 2022. Collect ed data will be analyzed using IBM software SPSS statistics to calculate frequency and percentage of claims’ categories. Results: The study included 94 medical malpractice claims. Surgical error was the most frequent (38.6%), followed by di agnosis error (18.5%) and policy and procedure error (16.4%). The severity level of medical errors exhibits specific character istics. Moderate severity level was the most frequent (55.32%), followed by major severity level (18.09%) and catastrophic se verity level (17.02%). We found that there were more male de fendants (84) than female defendants (47). Regarding the char acteristics of the defendant, obstetrics and gynecology were the most frequent (19), followed by the nursing department (13) and general surgery department (12). Consultants were the most frequent (36.6%), followed by specialists (35.2%) and registered nurses (9%). Nonparametric correlations between the medical error category and healthcare provider sex showed a direct, very weak correlation coefficient (.084). Conclusion: The study highlights the importance of patient education and equitable policies in preventing malpractice in healthcare. It emphasizes the need for healthcare professionals to prioritize patients’ needs, follow the law, and treat them with compassion. A comprehensive professional liability insurance policy is crucial in today’s litigious environment. The findings provide a framework for strategies to reduce medico-legal cas es and raise public and healthcare worker knowledge of medi cal mistakes. Recommendations: A 4-pillar model for preventing medi cal errors needs to be used which includes the following Pillar 1 of the healthcare safety strategy outlines the establishment of laws, regulations, policies, and standards to ensure safe pa tient treatment and protect medical personnel. A national pa tient safety agency should oversee safety measures and provide direction on resource distribution and action plan execution. A strategic plan with safety objectives should be established, and an organizational patient safety committee should adapt to na tional priorities. A patient safety culture survey should be con ducted, and data-driven action plans should be implemented. An independent organization should be appointed to receive, analyze, synthesize, and publicly report healthcare safety infor mation. Pillar 2 recommends enhancing resilience through ro bust human factors and ergonomics perspectives, implementing national initiatives for occupational safety and health, providing mental health and social support services, vaccinating health care professionals, maintaining personal protective equipment, and implementing safeguards against harassment, bullying, and discrimination. Proactive assessment of care settings for hazards and risks is recommended. Pillar 3 suggests establish ing a consultative group for patient and family involvement, involving senior executives in an organization-wide patient en gagement strategy. Patients should voice safety concerns, and an online portal should be provided for easy access to medi cal information. Pillar 4 outlines procedures for assessing and learning from near-misses and safety incidents, including event review procedures and anonymous reporting platforms.