Budget allocations escalate despite decreasing health assertions
The Italian healthcare system is grappling with a significant financial burden as the cost of health incidents has surpassed 1.5 billion euros from 2014 to 2023, according to Aon's Health Risk Observatory report. The last two years have seen an increase of 100 million euros, emphasizing the need for a more proactive approach to risk management in the sector.
Andrea Parisi, CEO Italy and Eastern Mediterranean of Aon, has highlighted the importance of adopting widespread best practices in risk management to save money within the Italian healthcare system. This call to action comes as surgical errors, diagnostic errors, and falls account for the majority of claims, making up 29.4%, 16.1%, and 8.2% of cases respectively.
The departments with the most claims are Orthopedics and Traumatology, Emergency Room, and Obstetrics and Gynecology, although specific data on the exact number of incidents and related costs for each department is not currently available.
The financial strain on healthcare facilities is further exacerbated by lawsuits related to health incidents, with many facilities reserving substantial funds for settlements years after the incidents occur.
The Italian healthcare system's budgets are affected by the cost of health incidents and lawsuits, and this increase significantly impacts both public and private healthcare providers. The system is already facing challenges due to dwindling funds and a challenging recovery post-Covid.
However, there has been a decrease in disputes between 2014 and 2023, with a decrease in mediations (-21%), civil proceedings (-21%), and penal proceedings (-8%). This reduction in legal proceedings may offer some relief to the system.
Infections have more than halved in number and cost in 2022 and 2023, returning to pre-pandemic levels of 2019. This is a positive development for the Italian healthcare system, which is currently recovering from the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Despite some progress, conciliatory mediation in the healthcare sector remains a weak point, as it does not reach its main goal in 92% of cases. The average cost of a health incident has increased from 50,500 euros to 54,900 euros.
The Covid pandemic has led to an increase in the number and cost of infection-related claims, with an average reserved amount of over 180,000 euros, showing a 19% increase compared to the 2023 edition. This highlights the need for continued vigilance and investment in infection control measures.
While the cost of health incidents has increased by 7 percentage points in 2022 and 2023, the number of incidents has slightly decreased. This suggests that efforts to improve risk management practices are having some impact, but more needs to be done to address the ongoing financial strain on the Italian healthcare system.
Automated checklists in operating rooms, combined with clinical risk assessment strategies, can help reduce human errors and incidents, safeguarding doctors and lowering insurance costs. This approach could prove invaluable in the ongoing quest to improve the Italian healthcare system's financial health.
Other science and technology-based solutions, such as automated checklists in operating rooms, could help reduce medical-conditions like surgical errors and falls, contributing to the improvement of health-and-wellness within the Italian healthcare system. The implementation of these strategies could also lead to lower costs associated with medical lawsuits, providing relief for both public and private healthcare providers overwhelmed by the financial burden of health incidents.
