Formal Patient Complaints and Malpractice Events Against Pediatric Orthopaedic Surgeons

Conclusions: The rate of patient complaints within an academic pediatric orthopaedic surgery practice over a decade was 0.15%, or ~1 complaint for every 670 new patients seen. The majority of patient complaints involved communication; a potentially modifiable area that can be targeted for improvement. While complaint rates among surgeons can vary, patient demographic factors are not associated with increased complaints. Understanding patient complaints rates and types may allow surgeons to target areas for improvement and decrease exposure to malpractice litigation. Level of Evidence: Level II—prognostic.
Source: Journal of Pediatric Orthopaedics - Category: Orthopaedics Tags: Selected Topics Source Type: research