Related Experiment Video
Updated: Dec 31, 2025
15:29
Microscopy-based Assays for High-throughput Screening of Host Factors Involved in Brucella Infection of Hela Cells
Published on: August 5, 2016
8.5K
Preventable Closed Claims in the AANA Foundation Closed Malpractice Claims Database.
Michael J Kremer1, Maria Hirsch2, Marjorie Geisz-Everson3
1is a professor in the Rush University College of Nursing and co-director of the Rush Center for Clinical Skills and Simulation, Chicago, Illinois.
AANA Journal
|January 11, 2020
Summary
Medical errors cause up to 400,000 preventable deaths annually in US hospitals. This study identified preventable anesthesia errors, including communication failures and judgment errors, in 123 malpractice claims.
Area of Science:
- Anesthesiology
- Patient Safety
- Medical Malpractice
Background:
- Medical errors rank as a top cause of death in the U.S., contributing to approximately 400,000 preventable deaths in hospitalized patients annually.
- Despite advancements in anesthesia patient safety, adverse outcomes persist, necessitating further investigation into contributing factors.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine anesthesia closed claims associated with preventable patient morbidity and mortality.
- To identify specific factors contributing to preventable adverse anesthesia events through thematic analysis of malpractice claims.
Main Methods:
- Thematic analysis was employed to review anesthesia closed claims.
- Data were sourced from 123 closed malpractice claims files within the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists (AANA) Foundation closed claims database.
Main Results:
- Investigators identified 123 closed claims where the Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist could have prevented the adverse event.
- Key factors associated with these preventable claims included communication failures, violations of AANA Standards for Nurse Anesthesia Practice, and errors in clinical judgment.
Conclusions:
- Communication failures, practice standard violations, and judgment errors are significant contributors to preventable anesthesia-related morbidity and mortality.
- Addressing these factors is crucial for enhancing anesthesia patient safety and reducing adverse outcomes.