Cases involving documentation failures nearly double the odds of closing with an indemnity payment.
In the 2024 benchmarking report, Candello provides an in-depth look at one of the most persistent yet fixable risks in health care delivery: documentation. An analysis of more than 65,000 medical malpractice cases that closed between 2014–2023 revealed:
- 20% of cases involve at least one documentation failure.
- Documentation issues more than double the odds that a case will close with an indemnity payment.
- Common documentation errors that significantly increase payment odds include alterations to the medical record, insufficient documentation of clinical findings, rationale, and informed consent.
The findings highlight how documentation influences malpractice case outcomes in high-risk clinical specialties. The report also considers the role of emerging technology and offers providers actionable recommendations to safeguard their practice and support patient safety. Download your copy of the report.