Identification of doctors at risk of recurrent complaints: a national study of healthcare complaints in Australia (10 April 2013)

Summary

The aim of this study was to determine the distribution of formal patient complaints across Australia's medical workforce and to identify characteristics of doctors at high risk of incurring recurrent complaints. It found that a small group of doctors accounts for half of all patient complaints lodged with Australian Commissions. It is feasible to predict which doctors are at high risk of incurring more complaints in the near future. Widespread use of this approach to identify high-risk doctors and target quality improvement efforts coupled with effective interventions, could help reduce adverse events and patient dissatisfaction in health systems.