Coverys, a leading provider of medical professional liability (MPL) insurance and healthcare risk management services, published its analysis of 403 closed medical malpractice events from 2021-2025. T

BOSTON, Oct. 05, 2026 /CourierPR/ -- Article: Coverys, a leading provider of medical professional liability (MPL) insurance and healthcare risk management services, published its analysis of 403 closed medical malpractice events from 2021-2025. The report revealed top drivers of diagnostic error in inpatient settings and risk management insights for overcoming the highest occurrence vulnerabilities.

The analysis, conducted by Coverys, a leading provider of medical professional liability insurance and healthcare risk management services, uncovered critical vulnerabilities in clinical decision-making, care transitions, and patient monitoring during hospital stays. Across Coverys’ broader analysis of 6,302 closed claims, diagnostic-related events represented 28% of all analyzed claims yet accounted for the highest financial impact at 43% of total indemnity paid across all care settings.

Specifically, inpatient diagnostic error events accounted for 68% of all inpatient diagnostic events, with 55% resulting in patient death and 19% causing high-severity, permanent injuries. More than 75% of these events involved patients with underlying comorbidities, and more than 90% involved clinical decision-making factors, including diagnostic differentials impacted by testing and cognitive bias issues.

Coverys’ Vice President of Risk Management and Analytics, Dana Siegal, RN, CPHRM, CPPS, identified hospitalist medicine as the largest contributor to inpatient diagnostic events, accounting for 37% of patient events and 30% of indemnity paid. Siegal emphasized that these errors are rarely the result of a single oversight, but rather a systemic challenge stemming from information and communication breakdowns in the face of patient complexity and heavy workloads.

To address these vulnerabilities, Coverys outlined FIGURE section of the report outlines specific practical recommendations for overcoming the highest occurrence vulnerabilities. These include implementing standardized processes for ongoing monitoring and communicating of patient assessment, instituting 'Diagnostic Time-Outs' when patients fail to respond as expected, integrating clinical pharmacists into diagnostic teams for complex infection protocols, and actively incorporating patient and family observations and concerns into differential assessments.

Coverys’ Dose of Insight report, a data-driven Self-Assessment Tool covering diagnostic processing, vital sign escalation, structured shift handoffs, and safety culture, provides healthcare organizations with a resource to understand their unique internal vulnerabilities. The report is available at Coverys.com and in Coverys’ booth (512) at the ASHRM 2026 Annual Conference.

The full report is available at Coverys.com.

The findings of Coverys’ analysis underscore the need for healthcare organizations to proactively address diagnostic error vulnerabilities to prevent patient harm. The findings also highlight the importance of standardized processes, structured communication, and interdisciplinary collaboration in mitigating these errors.

Inpatient diagnostic errors are a significant issue in healthcare, with diagnostic-related events accounting for the highest financial impact. Coverys’ analysis of 403 closed medical malpractice events from 2021-2025 reveals critical vulnerabilities in clinical decision-making, care transitions, and patient monitoring. The findings suggest that addressing these vulnerabilities is essential for improving patient outcomes and reducing financial impact.

Coverys, a leading provider of medical professional liability insurance and healthcare risk management services, published its analysis of 403 closed medical malpractice events from 2021-2025. The report revealed top drivers of diagnostic error in inpatient settings and risk management insights for overcoming the highest occurrence vulnerabilities.

Specific diagnostic events accounted for 68% of all inpatient diagnostic events, with 55% resulting in patient death and 19% causing high-severity, permanent injuries. More than 75% of these events involved patients with underlying comorbidities, and more than 90% involved clinical decision-making factors, including diagnostic differentials impacted by testing and cognitive bias issues.

Coverys’ Vice President of Risk Management and Analytics, Dana Siegal, RN, CPHRM, CPPS, identified hospitalist medicine as the largest contributor to inpatient diagnostic events, accounting for 37% of patient events and 30% of indemnity paid. Siegal emphasized that these errors are rarely the result of a single oversight, but rather a systemic challenge stemming from information and communication breakdowns in the face of patient complexity and heavy workloads.

To address these vulnerabilities, Coverys recommends implementing standardized processes for ongoing monitoring and communicating of patient assessment, instituting 'Diagnostic Time-Outs' when patients fail to respond as expected, integrating clinical pharmacists into diagnostic teams for complex infection protocols, and actively incorporating patient and family observations and concerns into differential assessments.

Coverys’ Dose of Insight report, a data-driven Self-Assessment Tool covering diagnostic processing, vital sign escalation, structured shift handoffs, and safety culture, provides healthcare organizations with a resource to understand their unique internal vulnerabilities. The report is available at Coverys.com and in Coverys’ booth (512) at the ASHRM 2026 Annual Conference.

The findings of Coverys’ analysis underscore the need for healthcare organizations to proactively address diagnostic error vulnerabilities to prevent patient harm. The findings also highlight the importance of standardized processes, structured communication, and interdisciplinary collaboration in mitigating these errors.