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.

General Risk ARTICLES		Specialty-SPECIFIC Risk ARTICLES
Alerts Best Practices Case Studies Claims Reviews Communication FAQs Hospitals and Facilities Informed Consent Interactive Guides/Site Surveys Keys to Patient Safety Litigation and Claims Practice Guidelines Professional Conduct Record Keeping Risk Management Risk Tips		Anesthesiology Cardiology Dentistry Emergency Care General Surgery Hospitals Hospitalists Internal Medicine Neurosurgery		Obstetrics and Gynecology Oncology Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Orthopedics Pathology Plastic Surgery Primary Care Psychiatry

Patient Selection for Elective Procedures
Lois E. Kemp, MA, RN
The patient selection process is a valuable tool for loss control, because many claims occur with patients who are not appropriate candidates for a procedure.

Obesity and Postoperative Surgical Risk
Howard Marcus, MD, FACP
This article examines patterns of severe postoperative respiratory depression in obese patients and recommends strategies for avoiding adverse outcomes.

Scar-The Trigger to the Claim
Mark Gorney, MD, FACS, Medical Director, Board of Governors
From The Doctor's Advocate

Fire Safety in the Surgical Suite
Susan K. Palmer, MD, and Ernest E. Allen
Besides conducting annual fire drills that include what to do if a fire occurs on a patient, it is also wise to review fire risks in high-risk procedures prior to the start of the surgical procedure.

Plastic Surgery Loss Prevention Panel Report
Joan Bristow

Plastic Surgery: ASPS Claims Review Panel
Mark Gorney, MD, FACS

The Genesis of Plastic Surgeon Claims: A Review of Recurring Problems
Mark Gorney, MD, FACS

Deep Venous Thrombosis and Pulmonary Embolism in Plastic Surgery Office Procedures
Ann S. Lofsky, MD

Plastic Surgery and Anesthesia: A Claims and Risk Reduction Workshop
Joan Bristow, David Charles, MD, Mark Gorney, MD, FACS, and Ann S. Lofsky, MD

Interactive Guide to Patient Safety for Office Practices (PDF)
This interactive guide is designed to help you uncover areas of potential malpractice exposure in your practice.

Conscious Sedation (Moderate Sedation) in the Office
Susan Shepard, MSN, RN
Take steps, including assigning an ASA score, to enhance safety for patients receiving conscious sedation in an office setting.

Frequently Asked Questions: Plastic Surgery
Laura A. Dixon, BS, JD, RN
Our experts answer questions from plastic surgeons, addressing issues such as patient selection and managing patient expectations.