Table 2:
Mean time to resolution of malpractice claims according to claim characteristics1
| Unadjusted Months |
Adjusted2 Months |
p-value for difference from reference category3 |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Physician Age (Years) | |||
| 30 to 39 | 15.0 | 16.4 | |
| 40 to 49 | 19.5 | 20.4 | (<0.001) |
| 50 or Older | 21.8 | 21.1 | (<0.001) |
| Specialty | |||
| Anesthesiology | 16.5 | 19.5 | |
| Cardiology | 19.9 | 21.1 | (0.545) |
| Dermatology | 12.6 | 18.4 | (0.309) |
| Diagnostic Radiology | 16.6 | 19.1 | (0.696) |
| Emergency Medicine | 16.7 | 15.4 | (0.157) |
| Family General Practice | 18.0 | 20.6 | (0.367) |
| General Surgery | 18.1 | 20.1 | (0.514) |
| Gynecology | 18.4 | 21.2 | (0.265) |
| Internal Medicine | 21.8 | 22.1 | (0.021) |
| Nephrology | 11.6 | 13.5 | (0.000) |
| Neurology | 15.7 | 17.9 | (0.186) |
| Neurosurgery | 22.3 | 19.4 | (0.923) |
| Obstetrics | 21.2 | 22.7 | (0.002) |
| Oncology | 17.3 | 15.1 | (0.185) |
| Ophthalmology | 17.0 | 20.1 | (0.533) |
| Pathology | 25.3 | 20.6 | (0.388) |
| Pediatrics | 24.1 | 24.5 | (0.050) |
| Plastic Surgery | 20.4 | 21.0 | (0.154) |
| Psychiatry | 18.7 | 19.0 | (0.762) |
| Pulmonary Medicine | 16.5 | 16.3 | (0.034) |
| Cardio-Thoracic Surgery | 16.9 | 17.2 | (0.042) |
| Urology | 19.4 | 22.1 | (0.050) |
| Gastroenterology | 19.1 | 20.1 | (0.795) |
| Orthopedic Surgery | 21.1 | 21.9 | (0.019) |
| Other Specialties | 14.9 | 16.1 | (0.000) |
| Severity | |||
| Fatality or permanent injury | 22.3 | 21.8 | |
| Temporary injury | 16.8 | 18.1 | (<0.001) |
| Emotional injury only | 13.5 | 12.9 | (<0.001) |
| Year Claim Closed | |||
| 1995 to 1997 | 19.9 | 17.9 | |
| 1998 to 2000 | 21.1 | 20.6 | (<0.001) |
| 2001 to 2003 | 19.6 | 20.7 | (<0.001) |
| 2004 to 2005 | 20.7 | 22.9 | (<0.001) |
1.
All calculations were made using sampling weights.
2.
Adjusted data are predicted based on multivariate regression of time to resolution as a function of physician age, specialty, alleged injury severity, and state and year fixed effects. Predictions were made holding other characteristics at mean values.
3.
Reference category is the first category in all cases.