A total of 216 EHR-related medical malpractice claims closed between 2010 and 2018, according to a recent Doctors Company study.
EHRs typically remain contributing factors rather than the primary cause of claims, with 1.1 percent of all claims that have an EHR factor closed since 2010. However, the pace of claims in which EHRs contributed to injury is growing, from seven total cases in 2010 to an average 22.5 cases per year in 2017 and 2018, according to the report.
The EHR-related claims closed from 2010-18 were caused by system technology and design issues as well as user-related problems. Here are the top technology and design issues cited by The Doctors Company, a physician-owned medical malpractice insurer.
· Other: 14 percent.
· EHR/technology failure: 12 percent.
· Lack of or failure of EHR alert or alarm: 7 percent.
· Fragmented record: 6 percent.
· Failure/lack of electronic routing data: 5 percent.
· Insufficient scope/area for documentation in EHR: 4 percent.
· Lack of integration/incompatible systems: 2 percent.
To access the full report, click here.