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NAPA, Calif.,– A new study by The Doctors Company shows that inadequate pre-operation patient assessments are a major factor in medical malpractice suits against anesthesiologists.
The study, by the nation’s largest physician-owned medical malpractice insurer, analyzes new trends in claims involving anesthesia care, includes a case study of a patient with multiple comorbidities, and provides risk mitigation strategies.
In their analysis of closed malpractice cases against anesthesiologists, physician reviewers found that the top three factors leading to patient injury were:
When physician reviewers identified inadequate histories and physicals, 67 percent of those patients were found to have at least one comorbidity—such as obesity and obstructive sleep apnea.
“This study reveals limited opportunities to conduct pre-op assessments, which could identify comorbidities and issues with the patient’s family medical history in advance of surgery,” said Darrell Ranum, JD, CPHRM, study co-author and vice president of patient safety and risk management with The Doctors Company. “Production pressures often limit testing and input from anesthesiologists and their ability to arrange for the safest location for care or prepare for complications that might occur.”
“As part of our mission to advance the practice of good medicine, we encourage surgeons, proceduralists, and healthcare organizations to work together to complete adequate assessments and testing prior to surgery,” Ranum added.
Susan K. Palmer, MD, board certified anesthesiologist and co-author of the study, agreed. “Particularly in a private setting, anesthesiologists may feel pressure to perform a cursory review of the patient and the patient’s history,” Palmer stated. “Even when anesthesiologists are provided the opportunity for an adequate pre-op assessment and find something of concern, they may feel pressure not to postpone the surgery or not to move the patient to a hospital setting.”
To avoid these risks, Palmer recommended the following: That patients ask for a consultation with their anesthesiologist a week before surgery; healthcare organizations send pre-anesthesia questionnaires to patients; and anesthesiologists and surgeons reach a compromise solution when there is disagreement over delaying or relocating a surgery.
About The Doctors Company
Founded and led by physicians, The Doctors Company (www.thedoctors.com) is relentlessly committed to advancing, protecting, and rewarding the practice of good medicine. The Doctors Company takes the mal out of malpractice insurance by helping hospitals and practices of all sizes manage the complexities of today’s healthcare environment—with expert guidance, resources, and coverage. The Doctors Company is the nation’s largest physician-owned medical malpractice insurer, with 82,000 members and over $4.5 billion in assets, and is rated A by A.M. Best Company and Fitch Ratings. To learn more about data-driven insights and to stay up to date on industry trends, follow and subscribe to The Doctors Company on Twitter, YouTube, LinkedIn, and Facebook.
The guidelines suggested in this press release are not rules, do not constitute legal advice, and do not ensure a successful outcome. They attempt to define principles of practice for providing appropriate care. The principles are not inclusive of all proper methods of care nor exclusive of other methods reasonably directed at obtaining the same results. The ultimate decision regarding the appropriateness of any treatment must be made by each healthcare provider considering the circumstances of the individual situation and in accordance with the laws of the jurisdiction in which the care is rendered.
