TABLE 1.

Variables used to search the Data Sharing System database and International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Edition (ICD-9) codes used

Close year (data runs from January 1, 1985, through December 31, 2004)

Closed claims

Paid claims

Total indemnity

Average indemnity

Largest payment

Median payment

Defense costs (total or average)

Severity (can be average severity)

Claimant age

Claimant sex

Type of institution when claim occurred (ie, hospital, nursing home, telephone, outpatient facility, etc)

Incident location where claim occurred (ie, patient’s room, emergency department, operating room, etc)

Misadventure (ie, diagnosis error, delay in performance, failure to properly respond, etc)

Associated issue (consent issues, problem with records, communication between providers, etc)

Disposition

Condition

Care rendered

Outcome

ICD-9 codes

802 facial fractures (nasal and mandible fractures)

815–817 fracture of the hand

872–873 open wound of face

881–887 amputation of thumb, finger, hand