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Social Inflation Causes Between $2.4 and $3.5 Billion of All Medical Malpractice Losses, The Doctors Company Study Finds
In the decade ending in 2021, between $2.4 and $3.5 billion, or 8 to 11 percent, of all medical malpractice losses incurred by physician-focused insurers stemmed from social inflation, according to new research from The Doctors Company, the nation’s largest physician-owned medical malpractice insurer and part of TDC Group.

Oct 20, 2021
Diagnostic Error in General Surgery: Cognitive Bias and Systems Issues in Medical Malpractice Claims (Abstract)
Jacqueline Ross, RN, PhD, Coding Director, Department of Patient Safety and Risk Management
Although claims against general surgeons primarily allege technical surgical-type errors, diagnostic error is the second most frequent allegation against or case type for general surgeons. Analysis of malpractice claims can elucidate the causes of and solutions to diagnostic errors. This study considers differences between diagnostic errors, both cognitive and systemic, committed by general surgeons in the inpatient vs. the outpatient setting.

Jun 17, 2022
RCA2: Panel Report on Improving Root Cause Analyses and Actions to Prevent Harm
James P. Bagian, MD, PE, member of The Doctors Company Board of Governors, co-chaired a panel with the National Patient Safety Foundation to improve how we can learn from adverse events and unsafe conditions and take action to prevent their occurrence in the future.

Aug 06, 2024
Office-Based Medical Malpractice Claims: Study Examines Administrative and Clinical Systems Factors
Jacqueline Ross, RN, PhD, Coding Director, and Patti L. Ellis, RN, CPHRM, Patient Safety Risk Manager II, Department of Patient Safety and Risk Management, The Doctors Company, Part of TDC Group
Ensuring patient safety is the goal in each office encounter. As evidenced by medical malpractice claims, however, harmful errors can occur that lead to poor outcomes for patients. We have conducted an analysis to better understand the underlying administrative and clinical systems factors that contribute to office-based medical malpractice claims.

The Doctor's Advocate

Jul 23, 2024
Contributing Factors to Medical Malpractice Claims: Study Examines Difference Between No-Payment and Indemnity Claims
Jacqueline Ross, RN, PhD, Coding Director, Department of Patient Safety and Risk Management, The Doctors Company, Part of TDC Group
In November 2023, The Doctors Company released a study on diagnosis-related medical malpractice claims with an indemnity over $1 million. Now, to expand our understanding, we have conducted a new analysis: Do contributing factors differ between malpractice claims with no payment and claims with indemnity payments?

Professional Education
Prevention of Medical Errors 2024 to 2026 (National)
Few medical errors are attributed to faulty medical judgment. More commonly, they are attributed to system failures inherent in healthcare delivery. By drawing on our professional liability closed claims data, we have identified common performance and diagnostic errors. We analyzed loss prevention measures in tandem with the elements necessary to conduct a credible and thorough root cause analysis to reduce system failures, respond to sentinel events, prevent medical errors, and improve patient safety. The purpose of this program is to provide clinicians with the most current information regarding the prevention of common performance and diagnostic errors.

Mar 22, 2022
Reduce Clinician Burnout and Improve Well-Being With People-First Leadership
Robert D. Morton, MAS, CPPS, Assistant Vice President, Department of Patient Safety and Risk Management, The Doctors Company
Solving burnout requires a comprehensive organizational commitment and people-first leaders who have the tenacity to change systems and deliver solutions.

Nov 12, 2019
Closing or Relocating a Healthcare Practice
Physician practices close for many reasons, including physician illness or death or a decision to sell, practice solo, join another group, relocate, or retire. These patient safety and risk management tips can help make the transition easier.

October 31, 2022, Part B News
As Practice Burnout Boils Over, Take Bold Steps to Hold and Head it Off
Even as pandemic pressures fade, symptoms of burnout in medical providers are getting worse rather than better. Robert Morton, MAS, CPPS, Assistant Vice President, Department of Patient Safety and Risk Management, The Doctors Company, discusses the reasons for increased physician burnout and provides constructive tools to improve and combat symptoms.