The ten-year malpractice experience of a large urban EMS system.
Malpractice is a recognized and growing problem for physicians and hospitals, but it is difficult to ascertain the risk of malpractice in the prehospital arena. Dade County, Florida (greater Miami), with a population of 1.7 million, currently is served by 339 certified paramedics. During the decade of 1972 to 1982, Dade County Fire Rescue handled 265,060 incidents; 16 claims were filed with the Risk Management Division of Dade County. The claims were produced by 11 incidents, which yields a rate of one per 24,096 incidents. The two greatest problems identified were inadequate record keeping and "gray zone" patients who do not fit any particular protocol.
D000368:Aged; D003951:Diagnostic Errors; D004632:Emergency Medical Services; D005431:Florida; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008318:Malpractice / Q000639:trends*; D008499:Medical Records; D012306:Risk; D014505:Urban Population