Serious Incidents in healthcare: What is the true cost?

Summary

Although several studies have tried to quantify the cost of ‘adverse events’ in healthcare, the true costs remain unknown. To understand the ‘true cost’ of serious incidents, Jane Carthey argues we need to consider:

• The cost of additional treatment for the affected patient.
• The opportunity costs that accrue from reporting and managing incidents, claims and complaints
• Business costs that accrue when, for example, healthcare staff are suspended.
• Costs resulting from implementing the duty of candour process, and
• Penalties and sanctions imposed

In other industries, the HSE’s Incident Cost Calculator is used to quantify the true costs of incidents. Inspired by this tool, Jane developed the Healthcare Serious Incident Cost Calculator. Available via the link below.

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