The medical tort system does not deter medical errors, compensates a small percentage of patients affected by negligent care, and is driving shortages in specialty care through rapidly rising insurance rates. New approaches, including an administrative system of health courts may address these issues and improve patient safety.
Medical Malpractice
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Identifying In-Hospital Venous Thromboembolism (VTE)
March 18, 2008 | Journal Article
This article examines inpatient encounter at Mayo Clinic-affiliated hospitals from 1995 through 1998 using the Rochester Epidemiology Project to identify all cases of venous thromboembolism among Olmsted County residents.
Physicians' Views on Defensive Medicine
June 28, 2010 | Journal Article
Defensive medicine in the form of unnecessary tests and procedures by physicians costs an estimated $60 billion annually. This study assessed physicians' beliefs to determine to what extent they practice defensive medicine in order to protect themselves from malpractice lawsuits.
Researchers Evaluate the Feasibility of a No-Fault System for Medically Injured Patients in Utah and Colorado
September 1, 2006 | Program Result
Two organizations worked to develop administrative no-fault malpractice compensation systems in Colorado and Utah and to collect and analyze medical-injury data for the two states.
Reducing Diagnostic Errors Through Effective Communication
April 1, 2008 | Journal Article
Diagnostic errors in medical situations are the cause of the majority of medical liability claims in the U.S. with an average payout of $300,000. This article describes a framework for improving medical communications using info information technology (IT) interventions to assist providers in the diagnostic process.
Identifying Diagnostic Errors in Primary Care Using an Electronic Screening Algorithm
February 12, 2007 | Journal Article
Examining the viability and utility of electronic screening algorithms to detect diagnostic errors in primary care.
Medical Errors Involving Trainees
October 22, 2007 | Journal Article
Graduate medical education poses unique challenges for the delivery of safe patient care because work carried out by medical trainees often involves special risks. Although those in the medical profession recognize these risk factors, there have bee ...
A 62-Year-Old Woman with Skin Cancer Who Experienced Wrong-Site Surgery
August 12, 2009 | Journal Article
This article looks at how medical errors are handled in the health professions and suggests that full disclosure of the mistake, in addition to an apology and follow-up, may be the best way to approach this sensitive topic.
Recent Research About Nursing, November 2009
November 24, 2009 | Story
New studies examine the impact of lack of sleep on ICU nurses, and highlight the impact of nurse-devised solutions to the problem of medical errors.
Recent Research About Nursing, October 2009
October 29, 2009 | Story
New studies focus on whether pediatric nurses are willing to address the smoking habits of parents of their newborn patients, and on the causes of medical mistakes in hospital emergency rooms.
Hospitals That Care for Poor Patients Face Digital Divide Without Federal Help
October 26, 2009 | News Release
First national look at electronic health records in hospitals that serve the poor shows effect of lagging adoption rates on quality.