Articles
As the first medical malpractice insurer to establish a patient safety department, we set the industry standard with innovative products and services that reduce risk in your practice and help you avoid claims. Our commitment extends to the insightful content offered here.
Patient Safety Information for Closing a Practice
Follow these guidelines for emergent or nonemergent practice closures.
Medication Safety
Susan Shepard, MSN, RN
Medication safety is a critical component of safe patient care, whether it is general medication knowledge or a provider's awareness of all medications that a patient is taking.
Practice Guidelines for Managed Care
Mark Gorney, MD, FACS
There are potential pitfalls at every level of the managed care process, but the main areas of concern are eligibility, emergency care, and utilization review (UR).
The Top 10 Risk Management Issues for Medical Office Practices in California
Kathleen Stillwell, RN, MPA, HSA
Minimize risk in your office practice with these strategies, including reviewing and evaluating all patient complaints with your staff.
Off-Label Use: Patient Safety and Risk Management Implications
Laura A. Dixon, BS, JD, RN
The standard for appropriate off-label use of medications and other products is what other similarly trained physicians would do, not what the manufacturer of the medication or product recommends.
Shared Responsibility for Preventing Malpractice Suits: Patient Interactions
Laura A. Dixon, JD, RN, and Susan Shepard, MSN, RN
The basic ingredients in any medical liability action are surprise, disappointment, and anger, and each member of the medical care team plays a role in reducing incidents that cause patient dissatisfaction.
Frequently Asked Questions: Treating Patients in a Difficult Economy
Susan Shepard, MSN, MA, RN, CPHRM
Our experts answer questions about billing issues, including when patients are unable or unwilling to pay physician charges.
Curbside Consultations
Susan Shepard, MSN, MA, RN
Physicians should be aware of the potential liability of informal "curbside" consultations, especially if expectations between the physicians are not clearly communicated.
Shared Responsibility for Preventing Malpractice Suits: Special Circumstances
Laura A. Dixon, BS, JD, RN, CPHRM, and Susan Shepard, MSN, MA, RN, CPHRM
Develop procedures for your staff to help reduce communication errors with hospitals, labs, and other physicians, as well as communications within the office.
Academic Detailing: What Is It?
Arlene Luu, JD, RN
Academic detailers provide physicians with available clinical data on drugs or treatment options, including the costs, safety, and effectiveness of the various options.
Terminating Patient Relationships
Laura A. Dixon, JD, RN
It is an acceptable practice to end a patient relationship under most conditions, but some situations may require additional steps or delay of the termination.
Electronic Medical Record and Social Media Malpractice Risks
David B. Troxel, MD, Medical Director
New technologies, such as EMR and social media, pose new liability risks.
Telephone Triage and Patient Safety
Susan Shepard, MSN, MA, RN, CPHRM
Implementing an effective telephone triage system in the office practice can improve physician-patient communication, confidence, service, satisfaction, and care, but it has its own risks.
Seeing Red (Flags)
Red Flags Rule update: The Red Flag Program Clarification Act changes the definition of "creditor" to exclude doctors.
From The Doctor's Advocate
HIPAA: Round Two
Amendments to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) include an expansion of sanctions to business associates for noncompliance.
From The Doctor's Advocate
The Top 10 Risk Management Issues for California Medical Office Practices
(PDF)
Kathleen Stillwell, MPA, HSA, RN
Minimize risk in your office practice with these strategies, including reviewing and evaluating all patient complaints with your staff.
Frequently Asked Questions: Americans with Disabilities Act
Laura A. Dixon, BS, JD, RN
Our experts answer questions about the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), which is designed to eliminate discrimination against persons with disabilities and provide enforceable standards to address such discrimination.
Frequently Asked Questions: General Topics
Cynthia Morrison, RN, ARM, CPHRM
Our experts answer questions about topics such as dictation, storage of medical records, and stolen prescription pads.
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