Best medical practices in America, according to patients
- North Dakota has the best medical practices in America, reporting the lowest rate of medical malpractice payment reports at 2.65 per 1,000 practitioners
- Vermont and Alabama rank as the second– and third–best states, with 3.54 and 3.80 medical malpractice payment reports per 1,000 practitioners, respectively
- New Mexico ranks as the state with the highest rate of medical malpractice, averaging 22.5 reports per 1,000 practitioners
A recent analysis conducted by personal injury lawyers at Triumph Law, P.C. revealed the best–rated medical practices in America, based on patient reports.
The study gathered Medical Malpractice Payment Report (MMPR) counts from HRSA.gov over the four-year period (2020–2023) and calculated the annual average for each state.
To ensure fair comparisons across states with different practitioner populations, the averages were adjusted to reflect the number of reports per 1,000 practitioners.
Researchers named North Dakota the state with the best medical practices, highlighting its lowest incidence rate of medical malpractice at just 2.65 reports per 1,000 practitioners between 2020 and 2023 (73% below the national average of 9.71 per 1,000 practitioners).
In the four-year period analyzed, North Dakota recorded 682 total medical malpractice reports, with 2020 marking the lowest year at just five reports statewide.
Vermont ranked as the second-best state, averaging 3.54 medical malpractice reports per 1,000 practitioners (64% below the national average). The state saw only seven cases in 2021, marking it as the best year for patients.
Alabama ranks as the third–best state for medical practices, with the third lowest rate of medical malpractice incidents at 3.80 per 1,000 practitioners. The state’s incidence rate is 61% below the national average (9.71 per 1,000 practitioners).
Minnesota is in fourth place, recording 4.06 incidents of medical malpractice per 1,000 practitioners. Wisconsin reported 4.56 cases of medical malpractice per 1,000 practitioners between 2020 and 2023, placing it in fifth.
Colorado ranks sixth–best state for medical practices, with 5.09 medical malpractice payment reports per 1,000 practitioners. Arkansas follows in seventh place, averaging 5.17 incidents of medical malpractice per 1,000 practitioners.
Iowa, Wyoming, and Maine round out the top 10 states with the lowest rate of medical malpractice across America, recording 5.19, 5.23 and 5.37 incidents of medical malpractice per 1,000 practitioners, respectively.
States with the lowest rate of medical malpractice per 1,000 practitioners
|
Rank |
State |
Medical malpractice payment reports per 1,000 practitioners (2020 – 2023) |
|
1 |
North Dakota |
2.65 |
|
2 |
Vermont |
3.54 |
|
3 |
Alabama |
3.80 |
|
4 |
Minnesota |
4.06 |
|
5 |
Wisconsin |
4.56 |
|
6 |
Colorado |
5.09 |
|
7 |
Arkansas |
5.17 |
|
8 |
Iowa |
5.19 |
|
9 |
Wyoming |
5.23 |
|
10 |
Maine |
5.37 |
New Mexico has the worst medical practices. The state recorded the highest incidence rate of medical malpractice, at 22.54 medical malpractice reports per 1,000 medical practitioners, which is 132% above the national average.
Between 2020 and 2023, New Mexico recorded 4,184 total medical malpractice reports, with 2022 marking the highest year at 163 reports statewide.
New York ranked second worst, averaging 22.04 reports of medical malpractice per 1,000 practitioners in the state. The incidence rate of New York is 127% above the national average (9.71 per 1,000 practitioners).
Florida has the third highest rate of medical malpractice incidents relative to its registered practitioners, with 18.71 incidents of medical malpractice recorded for every 1,000 practitioners (92.68% above the national average)
Hawaii follows in fourth place, with 17.54 incidents of medical malpractice per 1,000 practitioners. Georgia reported 16.51 cases of medical malpractice per 1,000 practitioners between 2020 and 2023 and ranks in fifth place.
Pennsylvania recorded 16.45 incidents of medical malpractice per 1,000 practitioners between 2020 and 2023, making it the sixth worst state for patients.
Indiana ranks seventh among states with the worst medical practices, averaging 15.32 medical malpractice incidents per 1,000 practitioners.
Maryland ranks eighth, with 14.96 medical malpractice incidents per 1,000 practitioners and South Carolina ranks ninth, reporting 14.64 incidents per 1,000 practitioners.
New Jersey recorded 14.44 incidents of medical malpractice per 1,000 practitioners between 2020 and 2023, making it the tenth worst state for patients.
States with the highest rate of medical malpractice per 1,000 practitioners
|
Rank |
State |
Medical malpractice payment reports per 1,000 practitioners (2020 – 2023) |
|
1 |
New Mexico |
22.54 |
|
2 |
New York |
22.04 |
|
3 |
Florida |
18.71 |
|
4 |
Hawaii |
17.54 |
|
5 |
Georgia |
16.51 |
|
6 |
Pennsylvania |
16.45 |
|
7 |
Indiana |
15.32 |
|
8 |
Maryland |
14.96 |
|
9 |
South Carolina |
14.64 |
|
10 |
New Jersey |
14.44 |
Commenting on the results, Robert Carichoff, personal injury lawyer for Triumph Law, P.C., said: “Patients should feel confident in their medical providers, trusting that they will receive quality care. However, it is also important for patients to advocate for themselves if they feel the care falls below an acceptable standard.
“Reporting any instances of suspected malpractice to the appropriate authorities is crucial for ensuring accountability and helping to improve overall patient safety.”
story credit: https://www.triumphlaw.com
Sources:
The NPDB data analysis tool: https://www.hrsa.gov
Methodology:
- Medical Malpractice Payment Report (MMPR) counts were collected from the source above for the past four years (2020–2023).
- The annual average number of MMPRs was calculated for each state.
- To account for varying practitioner populations, the average was normalized to reflect the number of reports per 1,000 practitioners, using practitioner data from the same source.
States with the lowest amount of medical malpractice payment reports (MMPR) per 1,000 practitioners
|
Rank |
State |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
2023 |
Four-year average
|
MMPR per 1,000 practitioners |
|
1 |
North Dakota |
5 |
9 |
7 |
8 |
7.25 |
2.65 |
|
2 |
Vermont |
14 |
7 |
10 |
11 |
10.5 |
3.54 |
|
3 |
Alabama |
58 |
74 |
78 |
75 |
71.25 |
3.80 |
|
4 |
Minnesota |
56 |
43 |
40 |
61 |
50 |
4.06 |
|
5 |
Wisconsin |
61 |
52 |
49 |
46 |
52 |
4.56 |
|
6 |
Colorado |
110 |
100 |
106 |
123 |
109.75 |
5.09 |
|
7 |
Arkansas |
62 |
60 |
42 |
48 |
53 |
5.17 |
|
8 |
Iowa |
50 |
47 |
65 |
53 |
53.75 |
5.19 |
|
9 |
Wyoming |
16 |
8 |
11 |
15 |
12.5 |
5.23 |
|
10 |
Maine |
28 |
30 |
32 |
25 |
28.75 |
5.37 |
|
11 |
Ohio |
181 |
212 |
250 |
170 |
203.25 |
5.39 |
|
12 |
Virginia |
106 |
122 |
187 |
151 |
141.5 |
5.42 |
|
13 |
South Dakota |
16 |
11 |
16 |
8 |
12.75 |
5.58 |
|
14 |
Mississippi |
57 |
64 |
73 |
74 |
67 |
5.83 |
|
15 |
Arizona |
182 |
167 |
203 |
158 |
177.5 |
5.86 |
|
16 |
Washington |
144 |
152 |
154 |
151 |
150.25 |
5.92 |
|
17 |
Nebraska |
35 |
32 |
34 |
55 |
39 |
5.97 |
|
18 |
Alaska |
19 |
15 |
21 |
24 |
19.75 |
6.13 |
|
19 |
Tennessee |
115 |
111 |
129 |
122 |
119.25 |
6.46 |
|
20 |
Oregon |
98 |
90 |
117 |
127 |
108 |
6.46 |
|
21 |
Texas |
496 |
496 |
597 |
521 |
527.5 |
6.50 |
|
22 |
North Carolina |
151 |
127 |
153 |
119 |
137.5 |
6.94 |
|
23 |
Missouri |
166 |
176 |
227 |
174 |
185.75 |
8.62 |
|
24 |
Delaware |
20 |
18 |
37 |
33 |
27 |
9.10 |
|
25 |
Oklahoma |
184 |
134 |
139 |
139 |
149 |
9.24 |
|
26 |
Kentucky |
104 |
115 |
163 |
171 |
138.25 |
9.70 |
|
27 |
California |
877 |
892 |
1069 |
977 |
953.75 |
9.76 |
|
28 |
Michigan |
231 |
281 |
339 |
295 |
286.5 |
9.79 |
|
29 |
Nevada |
80 |
87 |
119 |
110 |
99 |
10.37 |
|
30 |
Montana |
39 |
48 |
25 |
25 |
34.25 |
10.40 |
|
31 |
West Virginia |
70 |
107 |
100 |
47 |
81 |
10.50 |
|
32 |
Utah |
62 |
72 |
70 |
88 |
73 |
10.95 |
|
33 |
Idaho |
25 |
33 |
41 |
43 |
35.5 |
10.98 |
|
34 |
Louisiana |
261 |
218 |
235 |
206 |
230 |
11.00 |
|
35 |
Illinois |
290 |
290 |
414 |
430 |
356 |
11.22 |
|
36 |
New Hampshire |
49 |
49 |
54 |
39 |
47.75 |
11.49 |
|
37 |
Massachusetts |
219 |
203 |
257 |
248 |
231.75 |
12.00 |
|
38 |
Connecticut |
96 |
109 |
152 |
139 |
124 |
12.68 |
|
39 |
Kansas |
122 |
116 |
193 |
133 |
141 |
13.35 |
|
40 |
Rhode Island |
47 |
49 |
48 |
39 |
45.75 |
14.00 |
|
41 |
New Jersey |
423 |
385 |
501 |
527 |
459 |
14.44 |
|
42 |
South Carolina |
133 |
141 |
156 |
155 |
146.25 |
14.64 |
|
43 |
Maryland |
209 |
225 |
230 |
229 |
223.25 |
14.96 |
|
44 |
Indiana |
251 |
309 |
241 |
193 |
248.5 |
15.32 |
|
45 |
Pennsylvania |
628 |
618 |
717 |
591 |
638.5 |
16.45 |
|
46 |
Georgia |
279 |
255 |
296 |
325 |
288.75 |
16.51 |
|
47 |
Hawaii |
36 |
33 |
39 |
44 |
38 |
17.54 |
|
48 |
Florida |
981 |
1048 |
1268 |
1099 |
1099 |
18.71 |
|
49 |
New York |
1466 |
930 |
1177 |
1154 |
1181.75 |
22.04 |
|
50 |
New Mexico |
124 |
114 |
163 |
133 |
133.5 |
22.54 |
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Author: David Keech
David Keech is a retired teacher and works as a sportswriter, sports official and as an educational consultant. He has reported on amateur sports since 2011, known as 'KeechDaVoice.' David can be reached at [email protected]
