SHM Converge Scientific Abstract ePoster Gallery-Characteristics of Medical Malpractice Claims of Patients With Inter-Hospital Transfer.

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This study examined closed medical malpractice claims with payout at a single academic medical center from 2010–2019, comparing inter-hospital transfer (IHT) cases with emergency department (ED) admission cases. Of 326 total paid claims reviewed, 15 involved IHT and 63 involved ED admissions.<br /><br />Although IHT patients appeared to have lower severity of illness than ED patients based on comorbidity scores, the malpractice claims involving IHT had more severe injuries and a higher rate of death. IHT cases also represented a larger share of inpatient malpractice claims than their share of admissions, suggesting disproportionate risk.<br /><br />The most common allegations differed by group. Diagnostic-related allegations were more frequent in IHT cases, while monitoring-related allegations were more common in ED cases. Chart review suggested that diagnostic problems in IHT claims often stemmed from poor or delayed transfer of information between hospitals.<br /><br />Financially, IHT claims resulted in much higher payments. Mean and median settlement amounts for IHT cases were nearly four times those of ED cases.<br /><br />The authors conclude that safer and more effective care for transferred patients could reduce both patient harm and malpractice costs. They recommend prioritizing improvements in inter-hospital transfer processes at both sending and receiving hospitals, especially around communication and diagnostic information transfer.

Asset Subtitle

Sweta Singh

Meta Tag

Author List Amanda Edmondson, Brian F. Yagi, Jeffrey Rohde, Sweta Singh

Category Research

Concept Pediatric Inter-Hospital Transfer

Concept Malpractice Claim

Concept Diagnostic Error

Concept Patient Harm

Concept Length of Stay

Distinguished Non-Finalist

Presenter Organization University of Michigan Medical School

Presenting Author Sweta Singh

Track Patient Safety

Keywords

medical malpractice

inter-hospital transfer

emergency department

closed claims

patient safety

diagnostic errors

transfer communication

settlement payouts

hospital liability

adverse outcomes

Pediatric Inter-Hospital Transfer

Malpractice Claim

Diagnostic Error

Patient Harm

Length of Stay