[RISK MANAGEMENT IN COMMUNITY GYNECOLOGY: "CLAIM MANAGEMENT VERSUS RISK MANAGEMENT"]

The goal of the study is to analyze the gynecological system in Maccabi HMO in the aspect of risk management and to define points for improving patient safety and minimalization of the risk of lawsuits. Maccabi's risk management system aims to improve the safety of treatment, which is based on independent gynecologists in private clinics (662 doctors), 20 women's health centers and 4 emergency centers in gynecology which provide solutions to urgent cases beyond working hours in community medicine. The service provides an answer to about 870,000 women with about 940,000 annual visits. Characteristics of events in gynecology at Maccabi: events related to pregnancy - 41%, to gynecologist 40%, laboratory 11% and doctor-patient interaction: 8% Event distribution by claim or claim potential: pregnancy 70%, gynecology 30%; in cases of pregnancy - 60% of claims are related to malformations. In the field of obstetrics: in 74% of cases there was a risk factor that could be detected during pregnancy. In pregnancy-related claims reveal that in most cases there are missing or structural defects or a genetic defect that was not diagnosed; in most cases of not finding a structural defect (64%) there was a maternal factor or other suspicious factor during pregnancy follow-up, that would contribute to an early diagnosis. In most cases of non-detection of a genetic defect (92%), some suspicious factor (maternal, familial or findings during pregnancy) could have been defined, which might have contributed to the diagnosis. In gynecological events occurring: about 17% were connected to PAP smears and 13% to intrauterine devices. There is a need for an organizational culture that will encourage reporting: direct reporting to the risk management department, reporting to field risk management referrals and reporting by entities not directly involved.