Patient Complaints in Orthopedic Surgery: An Analysis Utilizing a Large National Database.

Sarfani, Shumaila; Rees, Andrew; Vickery, Justin; Kuhn, John E; Galloway, Mitchell B; Domenico, Henry; Pichert, James W; Cooper, William O · Orthop Clin North Am · 2022

retrospective_cohort · Level III

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Abstract

Unsolicited patient complaints (UPCs) about surgeons correlate with surgical complications and malpractice claims. Analysis of UPCs in orthopedics is limited. Patient complaint reports recorded at 36 medical centers between January 1, 2015 and December 31, 2018 were coded using a previously validated coding algorithm Patient Advocacy Reporting System. A total of 33,174 physicians had 4 consecutive years of data across the 36 participating medical centers and met other inclusion criteria. Orthopedists with high numbers of UPCs may benefit from being made aware of their elevated risk status in ways that invite reflection on underlying causes.

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