One method aimed at curtailing the incidence of medical malpractice has steadily led to an increase in patient injury. The number of medical malpractice claims based on errors resulting from electronic health records (EHRs) has steadily risen in the last decade. The study conducted by a large malpractice insurer showed that EHRs were a factor in just 2 medical malpractice claims in the period from 2007-2010, whereas the number grew to 161 from 2011 through December 2016.
The research also highlighted some problems areas. For example, some of the errors occurred due to “technical” issues, such as a failure to fully integrate the program into hospital. Other errors included user errors such a data entry errors or a lack of attention to alerts. Errors were most prevalent in hospital clinics/doctors officer, rather than surgery centers, labor and delivery and emergency room. Nursing and family medicine showed decreased errors. However, orthopedics showed an increase. One observer noted “While digitization of medicine has improved patient safety, it also has a dark side—as evidenced by the emergence of new kinds of errors."
For more information or if you have suffered an injury as the result of any type of medical error, please contact the experienced California birth injury lawyers at Bostwick & Peterson, LLP for an immediate consultation.
