Association Between US Physician Malpractice Claims Rates and Hospital Admission Rates Among Patients With Lower-Risk Syncope

Key Points Question Are US physician malpractice claims rates associated with hospital admission rates after emergency department visits among patients with lower-risk syncope? Findings In this cross-sectional study of 519 724 emergency department visits for syncope between 2008 and 2017, 19% of patients with lower-risk syncope were admitted to the hospital. A 7% absolute increase in the admission rate was found for every 1 in 100 000–person increase in the malpractice claims rate. Meaning The study’s findings indicated that most lower-risk patients with syncope were not admitted to the hospital; however, increases in physician malpractice claims rates were associated with substantial increases in hospital admission rates and admission-associated costs among patients with lower-risk syncope.