Will Kaiser Permanente see a spike in medical malpractice from the strike?

The Kaiser Permanente strike, involving over 75,000 impacted employees and the largest healthcare strike in U.S. history, has the potential to increase medical malpractice cases due to several key factors:

Staffing Shortages: The striking healthcare workers are highlighting significant understaffing issues that can lead to longer patient wait times and service delays. Inadequate staffing can increase the workload on healthcare professionals, potentially resulting in fatigue, stress, and errors in patient care. Studies suggest that medical errors contribute to a substantial number of patient deaths in the U.S.

Inexperienced Replacement Workers: During the strike, Kaiser Permanente plans to use contingency workers who may lack the same level of experience and familiarity with hospital systems and protocols as regular staff. This could raise the risk of medical errors, especially when new procedures are introduced rapidly.

Disruption of Communication and Coordination: The strike can disrupt the normal flow of communication and coordination among healthcare professionals, essential for safe and effective patient care. Such disruptions may lead to miscommunication, treatment delays, and other errors that could harm patients.

Increased Workload for Non-Striking Staff: Non-striking healthcare workers will face added pressure as they must care for an increased number of patients during the strike. This heightened workload can contribute to fatigue and stress, which are known factors in medical errors.

Distraction and Emotional Distress: The strike and associated picketing and protests can create a distracting and emotionally charged environment for both striking and non-striking healthcare workers. This distraction and emotional distress may impact their ability to focus on patient care and make sound clinical decisions.

While it's challenging to predict the exact impact of the Kaiser Permanente strike on medical malpractice, it is crucial for both healthcare workers and management to prioritize patient safety and work toward a resolution that addresses workers' concerns while ensuring the delivery of high-quality care.