Mangelhafte PCR-Dokumentation erhöht Haftungs- und Verfahrenskosten

Definition

Specialist legal commentary for Australian paramedics highlights that patient care records are often the primary evidence in coronial and civil proceedings, and that the presumption ‘if it’s not written down, it didn’t happen’ is applied when assessing care.[2] Incomplete or vague PCRs make it harder for services and clinicians to defend their decisions, increasing the likelihood of adverse findings, settlements or higher professional indemnity and public liability premiums. NSQHS standards for ambulance services emphasise robust documentation to support safe care and effective handover, which is also relied upon in post‑incident reviews and investigations.[3] While individual claim amounts vary widely, even a small number of additional settled claims (e.g. 1–2 per year at AUD 50k–150k each including legal costs) and incremental premium loading can add AUD 100–300k+ annually to a service’s cost base. Strengthening PCR completion and compliance—through structured templates, mandatory clinical fields, and real‑time guidance—reduces ambiguities that plaintiffs’ lawyers exploit and provides clearer contemporaneous evidence in the organisation’s defence.

Why This Matters

The Pitch: Ambulance providers in Australia 🇦🇺 silently absorb AUD 100–300k+ per year in extra medico‑legal costs and higher insurance premiums linked to inadequate PCRs. Automation of documentation workflows, audit trails and completeness standards reduces adverse findings risk and associated financial drag.

Affected Stakeholders

Paramedics, Clinical managers and medical directors, Risk and legal counsel, Insurance and claims managers, Executives and board members, Coronial liaison officers

Related Business Risks