A New York state judge's use of "judge-directed negotiations" is one of 20 demonstrations on innovative solutions for malpractice cases recently awarded for $23 million in HHS funds, according to a report by the Associated Press.
Judge Douglas McKeon's approach on medical liability cases has saved hospitals up to $50 million a year in conjunction with early disclosure of medical errors by the hospitals. Five private hospitals in Manhattan and the Bronx, including New York Presbyterian/Columbia, are involved in the demonstration, which is receiving almost $3 million from HHS.
Here's how one malpractice case was handled in Judge McKeon's system. An elderly man fell on the sidewalk and was paralyzed from the neck down, apparently because responding paramedics didn't realize the severity of the injury. Although the hospital system involved in the case offered a significant settlement, the patient's son, angry about the paramedics' actions, wanted to go to court. In judge-directed negotiations, however, the son came to terms with his anger and accepted the settlement.
An HHS release said the government's Patient Safety and Medical Liability initiative is funding malpractice demonstration or planning grants at the following institutions, with grant amount listed for each:
Ascension Health System, St. Louis, $2,990,612
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, $273,782
Carilion Medical Center, Roanoke, Va., $280,924
Fairview Health Services, Minneapolis, $2,982,690
Jackson Memorial Hospital, Miami, $299,576
Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, $293,225
Massachusetts State Department of Public Health, Boston, $2,912,566
Multicare Health System, Tacoma, Wash., $291,810
New York State Unified Court System, New York City, $2,999,787
North Carolina Department of Health & Human Services, Raleigh, N.C., $297,710
Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, $187,437
Office for Oregon Health Policy and Research, Portland, Ore., $299,458
Sanford Research, Sioux Falls, SD, $294,137
University of Illinois at Chicago, $2,998,083
University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston, $1,796,575
University of Utah, Salt Lake City, $299,999
University of Washington, Seattle, two grants, $2,972,209 and $295,837
Washington State University, Pullman, Wash., $298,810
Wishard Health Services, Indianapolis, $154,124
Read the Associated Press report on malpractice cases.
Read the HHS release on malpractice cases.
Judge Douglas McKeon's approach on medical liability cases has saved hospitals up to $50 million a year in conjunction with early disclosure of medical errors by the hospitals. Five private hospitals in Manhattan and the Bronx, including New York Presbyterian/Columbia, are involved in the demonstration, which is receiving almost $3 million from HHS.
Here's how one malpractice case was handled in Judge McKeon's system. An elderly man fell on the sidewalk and was paralyzed from the neck down, apparently because responding paramedics didn't realize the severity of the injury. Although the hospital system involved in the case offered a significant settlement, the patient's son, angry about the paramedics' actions, wanted to go to court. In judge-directed negotiations, however, the son came to terms with his anger and accepted the settlement.
An HHS release said the government's Patient Safety and Medical Liability initiative is funding malpractice demonstration or planning grants at the following institutions, with grant amount listed for each:
Ascension Health System, St. Louis, $2,990,612
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, $273,782
Carilion Medical Center, Roanoke, Va., $280,924
Fairview Health Services, Minneapolis, $2,982,690
Jackson Memorial Hospital, Miami, $299,576
Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, $293,225
Massachusetts State Department of Public Health, Boston, $2,912,566
Multicare Health System, Tacoma, Wash., $291,810
New York State Unified Court System, New York City, $2,999,787
North Carolina Department of Health & Human Services, Raleigh, N.C., $297,710
Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, $187,437
Office for Oregon Health Policy and Research, Portland, Ore., $299,458
Sanford Research, Sioux Falls, SD, $294,137
University of Illinois at Chicago, $2,998,083
University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston, $1,796,575
University of Utah, Salt Lake City, $299,999
University of Washington, Seattle, two grants, $2,972,209 and $295,837
Washington State University, Pullman, Wash., $298,810
Wishard Health Services, Indianapolis, $154,124
Read the Associated Press report on malpractice cases.
Read the HHS release on malpractice cases.