Fadel MA, McCoy JL, Kidwell R, Voinchet R, Johnson JT, Simons JP. Hidden Otolaryngology Malpractice Claims: An Internal Review From 2000 to 2020.
Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2023;
169:514-519. [PMID:
36884007 DOI:
10.1002/ohn.311]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2022] [Revised: 01/20/2023] [Accepted: 02/15/2023] [Indexed: 03/09/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE
To report key characteristics and patterns of captive insurance claims not publicly reported in otolaryngology across a large tertiary-level academic health system over the previous 2 decades.
STUDY DESIGN
Case series.
SETTING
The tertiary care health system.
METHODS
The internal captive insurance database at a tertiary level healthcare system was queried to identify otolaryngology-related malpractice claims regardless of final disposition (settled or dismissed) filed from 2000 to 2020. The date of the incident, date of claim, error type, patient outcome, provider subspecialty, total expenses, disposition, and final reward amount were recorded.
RESULTS
Twenty-eight claims were identified. There were 11 (39.3%) claims from 2000 to 2010 and 17 (60.7%) claims from 2011 to 2020. Head and neck surgery was the most frequently implicated subspecialty (n = 9, 32.1% of all cases), followed by general otolaryngology (n = 7, 25.0%), pediatrics (n = 5, 17.9%), skull base/rhinology (n = 4, 14.3%), and laryngology (n = 1, 3.6%). Improper surgical performance was cited in 35.7% of cases (n = 10), followed by failure to diagnose (n = 8, 28.6%), to treat (n = 4, 14.3%), and to obtain informed consent (n = 3, 10.7%). While 2 cases are ongoing, a total of 17/26 (65.4%) cases were settled and 20/26 (76.9%) dismissed some or all parties. Dismissed claims had significantly higher expenses (p = .022) and duration from incident to disposition (p = .013) compared to settled claims.
CONCLUSION
This study expands the malpractice landscape in otolaryngology by including data not readily available through public sources and compares it to national trends. These findings encourage otolaryngologists to better gauge current quality and safety measures that best protect patients from harm.
Collapse