Relation of patients ’ experiences with individual physicians to malpractice risk

Objective. Patient care experience survey data might be useful for managing individual physician malpractice risk, but available evidence is limited. This study assesses whether patients ’ experiences with individual physicians, as measured by a validated survey, are associated with patient complaints and malpractice lawsuits. Design. Random samples of active patients in physicians ’ panels, with sample sizes adequate to provide highly reliable, stable information about patients ’ experiences with each physician (n 19 202, average respondents per physician 119) were used to assess the relation of patient survey measures to malpractice risk. Setting. A large multi-specialty physician organization in eastern Massachusetts, USA. Participants. Physicians providing care for at least 5 years in adult primary care and select high-risk specialty department