Between trust and risk how safe is our medical care?

Claims for damages due to treatment errors in Germany

Number of reported treatment errors and claims for damages  

• According to the "Report of the expert commissions and arbitration boards" of the Federal Medical Association Were in the year 2022 a total of around 10,200 applications based on the assessment of suspected treatment errors.
• At around 3,800 cases a treatment error was confirmed. That corresponds approximately 37% of the tested cases. In round 2,100 cases the error led to health damage, which justified liability of the doctor or hospital.

Most common error areas

Amount of compensation payments

• On average, doctors and hospitals pay for example in confirmed cases of treatment errors 50,000 to 100,000 euros in compensation. However, this amount can vary significantly depending on the severity of the damage.
• In serious cases that lead to permanent damage, disability or deaths, payments several hundred thousand up to over one million euros be.
• According to the Overall association of the German Insurance Industry (GDV) the overall compensation for treatment errors per year 2022 around 400 million euros. This amount is made up of compensation payments, pain and suffering and pension payments.

Insurance cases

• Doctors and clinics are usually liable, so that claims for damages are often covered by insurance. The average number of insurance cases in connection with treatment errors is about 15,000 to 20,000 cases per year.
• The cases in which lifelong follow -up costs must be covered, for example in the case of incorrect treatments that lead to permanent disabilities.

Course of the claims for damages in recent years

• In recent years, the number of reported treatment errors has remained relatively stable, but the average compensation amounts have increased. This is due to the fact that serious mistakes in particular are better recorded and the claims for damages are correspondingly higher.

What new knowledge and developments on the subject of patient safety are there?

In recent years, the topic of patient safety has continuously developed through various research, studies and projects. Here are some of the latest knowledge and developments in the field of patient safety:

Meaning of the digital transformation

• The Digital transformation Healthcare plays an increasingly important role in improving patient safety. Electronic health records (EGA), telemedicine and digital error reporting systems enable more efficient documentation, communication and avoidance.
• Studies show that implementation of electronic medication plans is the risk of medication in medication by up to 60% Reduction can be reduced as interactions are better recognized and dosage errors are avoided.

Improvement of communication and teamwork

• One of the most common causes of treatment errors are communication problems between medical staff. New studies emphasize the importance of Standardized transfer protocols and regularly Communication trainingto avoid misunderstandings and loss of information.
• "Sbar" (situation, background, assessment, recommendation) is a communication model that is now used in many facilities to clearly and structure information.

Patient participation and security culture

• There is more and more evidence that the integration of patients into the treatment process increases security. Patients who actively ask questions and participate in decision -making processes contribute to recognizing and preventing errors.
• Health organizations that one Open error culture Maintain in which errors and almost errors can be reported without fear of punishment, have significantly lower error rates. This realization has led to more and more institutions "Cirs" (Critical Incident Reporting System) introduce.

Artificial intelligence (AI) and data analyzes

• Artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly used to identify risks at an early stage. AI-supported systems can, for example, monitor patients in real time and indicate anomalies at an early stage, which supports the staff in decision-making.
• AI analyzes make it possible to evaluate large amounts of patient data and thus identify potential risk factors for treatment errors.

Nosocomial infections

• Current studies show that infections occur in hospitals (nosocomial infections) are still a significant security problem. New strategies, such as the increased use of hand disinfection, implementation of strict hygiene protocols and the use of UV disinfection technologies, have led to a measurable reduction in these infections. The important utensils provide the Personal protective equipment and Disinfectant For the staff in health facilities, avoid possible nosocomial infections.

For which facilities do these findings apply?

The above -mentioned knowledge to improve patient safety applies to a large number of health facilities:

Hospitals: Hospitals are particularly susceptible to patient safety risks, since complex medical interventions are carried out here and many different departments interact. The use of checklists, digital documentation systems and error registration systems is particularly important here.

Doctor's practices and outpatient facilities: There are also risks to treatment errors in outpatient facilities. The exact documentation of the patient history, communication between different doctors and the safe prescription of medication plays a major role here. Error registration systems are also increasingly introduced in this area.

Care facilities: In nursing homes and supervised residential devices, medication errors and falls are common security problems. Digital medication plans, training of nursing staff and measures to prevent falls contribute to improving security.

Rehabilitation facilities: In rehabilitation centers, where patients are often looked after in the long term, precise documentation and continuous monitoring of the rehabilitation process are crucial for patient safety.

Pharmacies: Pharmacies also contribute to patient safety by examining interactions of medication and advising patients about correct income. Digital systems help to avoid errors when issuing medication.

Telemedical services: Due to the increasing use of telemedicine, standards for patient safety must also be observed here. The confidentiality of patient data, precise diagnoses based on digital data and clear communication with the patients are crucial.

What measures are currently being taken?

Error registration systems described more precisely

Error registration systems are central tools for the recording and analysis of treatment errors and near defects. These systems are intended to encourage medical personnel to report anonymous mistakes or almost defects (situations that almost caused damage) without having to be afraid of sanctions or negative consequences. The goal is to learn from these incidents and to introduce systematic improvements.

• Examples of error registration systems:
  • CIRS (Critical Incident Reporting System): One of the best -known error registration systems in Germany is the "CIRS - Critical Incident Reporting System". It is used in many hospitals and enables the staff to report critical incidents that are evaluated anonymously. The knowledge gained is used to recognize security gaps and develop prevention measures.
  • Pasis (patient safety information system): This system is a nationwide offer that can use both outpatient and inpatient health facilities. It enables cross-sector reporting of almost errors and critical incidents, so that intersectoral learning processes can also arise.

Training on patient safety 

Regular training is an important building block to increase the awareness and competence of medical staff in relation to patient safety. These training helps to change the culture of errors, to recognize risks at an early stage and to act appropriately.

• Contents of the training:
  • Simulation training: With the help of realistic simulations, typical risk situations are played through. The medical staff learns to deal with potentially dangerous situations in a safe environment, e.g. B. emergency situations or the use of new technologies.
  • Communication training: Communication errors are one of the most common causes of treatment errors. Training for communication helps the medical staff to pass on clearly and precisely information, in particular when handing over patients from one department to another.
  • Security awareness and culture of errors: In training, it is conveyed how important it is to report errors and learn from them instead of covering them up.

Checklists and standardized work processes

Checklists and standardized work processes are effective instruments to reduce human errors. They ensure that all the necessary steps are observed in a treatment process and minimize the risk of overlooking important aspects.

• Examples of checklists:
  • WHO safety checklist for operations: This checklist includes several sections that have to be processed before, during and after an operation. This includes, for example, checking the patient's identity, the place of operation and the availability of instruments.
  • Medication check lists: These checklists help to check the right drug dosing, administration time and type as well as potential interactions.
• Standardized work processes: These are defined processes that must be observed by all employees. Examples include protocols for dealing with high -risk medicas or defined processes for patient identification.

Modern technologies such as the electronic health file (EGA)

The electronic health file (EGA) is a digital system that stores and makes all the important health information of a patient centrally stores and accessible. It offers many advantages in terms of patient safety:

• Functions of the electronic health file:
  • Central access to patient data: Doctors and nursing staff can access important information such as diagnoses, medication plans, allergies and previous treatments from anytime and from anywhere. This reduces the risk of misdiagnoses and medication errors.
  • Medication plans: The EGA makes it possible to view current drug plans and to recognize potential interactions, which is particularly important in patients with several medications.
  • Memory functions: Patients are informed about due preventive examinations, vaccinations or doctor's appointments, which improves the prevention and treatment of diseases.
  • Security alarms: In contraindications, allergies or potential medication errors, automatic warnings can be generated in order to draw the medical staff aware of possible risks.

Projects to improve patient safety

• Action alliance Patient safety (APS): The APS is committed to improving patient safety at the national level and develops guidelines, recommendations for action and training materials for medical staff. The APS also organizes the annual "German Prize for Patient Safety", in which innovative projects are awarded.

• "Safe op" project for surgery security: This project aims to increase security during operations by introducing standardized checklists and work processes. The "Safe OP" project has contributed to reducing complications during operations.

• "Together for more security": A project that encourages patients, relatives and medical staff together and ensure more security in the healthcare sector. This includes information events, brochures and online platforms that inform patients about their rights and opportunities.

What can the individual patient do?

Patients and their relatives also play an important role in patient safety. Here are some options for how you can contribute to this:

• Actively participate: Patients should actively participate in their treatment process, ask questions and make sure that they understand all important information about diagnoses, treatments and medication.
• List of medication: It is helpful to conduct a current list of all medication including dosage and time of intake and bring them with you with every visit to the doctor.
• Preparation for visits to the doctor: Patients should prepare for visits to the doctor by bringing all important documents, questions and information about current complaints or pretreatments.
• Ask security questions: Patients should not be afraid to ask medical staff whether, for example, their identity has been checked or whether hygiene measures are observed.

Patient safety means more than just numbers and statistics - it stands for the trust that we put in the hands of our doctors, nursing staff and the entire health system. It is about people who hope to be cared for in the best possible way in their most vulnerable moments. Every mistake can change a life forever, but every progress, every honest conversation and every learning encounter have the potential to protect life.

If we really want to improve patient safety, we have to take responsibility together, show empathy and create a culture in which the focus is on openness and trust. It is a way that requires courage and commitment, but also hope and the chance of becoming stronger and better out of mistakes. Because in the end it is about the fact that everyone can trust in their hardest hour to be treated safely - and that is exactly the essence of humanity in healthcare.