Claims arising from poor care by hospitals’ in-house physicians (called hospitalists) may be more likely to result in a higher injury severity than those arising from other physician specialties, new research has found.
The study, titled “Hospitalist Closed Claims Study: An Expert Analysis of Medical Malpractice Allegations,” found that 72 percent of claims arising from hospitalists are found to be highly severe, compared to 34 percent from all physicians.
These findings are based on claims reported by more than 2,100 hospitalists insured by The Doctors Company and include all claims and lawsuits in which a hospitalist was named a defendant. Researchers analyzed 464 claims against hospitalists that closed between 2007 and 2014.
The increased prevalence in high-severity injuries in hospitals is due in part to the overall level of care needed by hospital patients – as opposed to those seeking treatment in other facilities. Hospitalists often receive patients with serious conditions that require more thorough assessments and testing, timely referrals, and rapid diagnoses and treatment. Further, hospitalists tend to manage more high-acuity patients than do other physicians, the study explains, and they have limited access to patients’ past medical histories.
Tragically, patients are the ones who must suffer the consequences when medical care providers fail to meet the standard of care. The Pennsylvania and New Jersey medical malpractice lawyers at Anapol Weiss have been holding physicians accountable for preventable injuries resulting from their negligence. If you or a family member was a victim of medical negligence, we can help. Contact our firm for assistance.