The impact of medical errors on ninety-day costs and outcomes: an examination of surgical patients.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

To estimate the effect of medical errors on medical expenditures, death, readmissions, and outpatient care within 90 days after surgery.

Data sources

2001-2002 MarketScan insurance claims for 5.6 million enrollees.

Study design

The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality Patient Safety Indicators (PSIs) were used to identify 14 PSIs among 161,004 surgeries. We used propensity score matching and multivariate regression analyses to predict expenditures and outcomes attributable to the 14 PSIs.

Principal findings

Excess 90-day expenditures likely attributable to PSIs ranged from $646 for technical problems (accidental laceration, pneumothorax, etc.) to $28,218 for acute respiratory failure, with up to 20 percent of these costs incurred postdischarge.

SUBMITTER: Encinosa WE 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2613997 | biostudies-literature | 2008 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature