One in every four hospital professional liability claims and 24 percent of related costs are associated with hospital-acquired conditions such as infections and injuries, medication errors, objects left in surgery, and pressure ulcers, according to a study conducted by Aon Corporation in conjunction with the American Society for Healthcare Risk Management.
The study also finds that the frequency of claims is on the rise and is expected to continue increasing at 1 percent annually, after a decade of decreases. The rise is attributed to the economic downturn, changes to Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services payment rules regarding never events, and changes in public sympathy toward healthcare providers.
Other study highlights include the following:
- In 2010, hospital loss costs per occupied bed equivalent, a major part of the total cost of risk, are expected to increase 5 percent annually to $3,170.
- Claim severity, including both indemnity and defense costs, continues to increase at a consistent rate and is projected to increase by 4 percent annually.
- In 2010, hospitals can expect to incur liability costs of $181 per birth in the obstetrics unit and $7.20 per visit in the emergency department.
Read the Aon press release.
