This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a colleague Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in Web of Science Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Request Permissions Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Web of Science (4) Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Vigoda, M. M. Articles by Lubarsky, D. A. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Vigoda, M. M. Articles by Lubarsky, D. A. Related Collections Economics and Health Care Research

---

ECONOMICS, EDUCATION, AND POLICY

Failure to Recognize Loss of Incoming Data in an Anesthesia Record-Keeping System May Have Increased Medical Liability

Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative Medicine and Pain Management, Center for Informatics and Perioperative Management, University of Miami/Jackson Memorial Medical Center, Miami, Florida

Address correspondence and reprint requests to Michael M. Vigoda, Department of Anesthesiology, University of Miami/Jackson Memorial Hospital, 1611 NW 12th Ave. (C-301), Miami, Florida 33136. Address e-mail to Mvigoda{at}med.miami.edu.

Abstract

Automated anesthesia record-keeping systems (AARKs) are increasingly being used. There is a perception that AARKs may limit medical liability. We report a case in which our AARK may have increased our medical liability exposure. Nine months after a patient suffered a serious intraoperative complication, the anesthesiologist was named (as one of several defendants) in a claim alleging failure to properly monitor anesthetic care. One reason why the anesthesiologist was named related to a gap of 93 min in which no vital signs were documented in the anesthesia record. Relying on the physiological monitors to assess the patient's condition, the anesthesiologist did not recognize the interruption of data transmission, because the "active" medication window obscured the graphical display of the vital sign window.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				A. Eden, R. Pizov, L. Toderis, G. Kantor, and A. Perel The Impact of an Electronic Reminder on the Use of Alarms After Separation from Cardiopulmonary Bypass Anesth. Analg., April 1, 2009; 108(4): 1203 - 1208. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				W. S. Sandberg Anesthesia Information Management Systems: Almost There Anesth. Analg., October 1, 2008; 107(4): 1100 - 1102. [Full Text] [PDF]

				T. R McLean Principle of robotic surgery litigation in the United States Clin Risk, September 1, 2008; 14(5): 179 - 181. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				W. S. Sandberg, E. H. Sandberg, A. R. Seim, S. Anupama, J. M. Ehrenfeld, S. F. Spring, and J. L. Walsh Real-Time Checking of Electronic Anesthesia Records for Documentation Errors and Automatically Text Messaging Clinicians Improves Quality of Documentation Anesth. Analg., January 1, 2008; 106(1): 192 - 201. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				W. D. Driscoll, M. A. Columbia, and R. A. Peterfreund An Observational Study of Anesthesia Record Completeness Using an Anesthesia Information Management System Anesth. Analg., June 1, 2007; 104(6): 1454 - 1461. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. Kheterpal, R. Gupta, J. M. Blum, K. K. Tremper, M. O'Reilly, and P. E. Kazanjian Electronic Reminders Improve Procedure Documentation Compliance and Professional Fee Reimbursement Anesth. Analg., March 1, 2007; 104(3): 592 - 597. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]