Communication
Professional Education
Shoulder Dystocia Physician-Patient Disclosure
This enduring activity is designed to assist physicians and advanced practice clinicians (APCs) in enhancing their communication skills when disclosing a shoulder dystocia injury to patients and family members. This type of injury to the infant may, unfortunately, occur despite the best of care; however, effective physician-patient communication is an integral part of clinical practice and has been shown to positively influence outcomes by increasing patient understanding and trust.
Aug 18, 2023
Limited English Proficiency (LEP) Patients: Frequently Asked Questions
To help you understand LEP requirements, we have compiled a list of frequently asked questions with strategies to ensure compliance.
Jul 28, 2023
Quick Check: Patient Dismissal Process
Our Quick Check tool can help you improve your process for dismissing patients from your practice.
Jul 28, 2023
Quick Check: Informed Consent Process
Using our Quick Check tool can help you improve your informed consent process and documentation.
Jul 28, 2023
Quick Check: Dissatisfied Patient Management
Our Quick Check tool can help you improve how your practice identifies and manages dissatisfied patients.
Jul 11, 2023
Patient Safety Strategies for Hospitalists
Hospitalists face liability risks based on their diverse roles as an inpatient’s attending physician, covering physician, consultant, supervising physician, and/or co-manager. Common problems include confusion regarding the hospitalist’s responsibilities in the patient care continuum and miscommunication during different phases of inpatient care.
May 30, 2023
The Importance of Clinical Health Information at the Point of Radiology Order
Having ready access to patients’ clinical information helps radiologists eliminate assumptions and apply their skills and expertise in rendering accurate interpretive reports.
May 30, 2023
Americans with Disabilities Act: Frequently Asked Questions
Practitioners can face steep penalties for failing to comply with federal mandates that protect individuals with disabilities.
May 01, 2023
Dealing With Online Patient Complaints
Clinicians are understandably concerned about their reputations and the consequences of any negative comments posted about them on social media platforms.
Apr 26, 2023
Curbside Consultations: Patient Safety and Legal Risks
Informal consultations are tempting to busy healthcare practitioners because they are convenient and speedy, but these situations also include inherent liability risks for the consulting practitioner.
Apr 25, 2023
Nonadherent and Noncompliant Patients: Overcoming Barriers
Nonadherent or noncompliant patient conduct (whether intentional or inadvertent) can adversely affect clinical outcomes, undermine the practitioner-patient relationship, and disrupt the operation of practice.
Apr 11, 2023
Disclosure Resources
Practitioners can use these guidelines to help mitigate liability risks when disclosing adverse events and complications.
Apr 01, 2023
Avoid Patient Abandonment Claims with Education, Follow-Up
Sue Boisvert, BSN, MHSA, CPPS, CPHRM, DFASHRM, Senior Patient Safety Risk Manager, Department of Patient Safety and Risk Management, The Doctors Company, part of TDC Group, shares insights on how good policies and strong communication can reduce the risk of patient abandonment claims.
Mar 17, 2023
Obtaining Informed Consent in Teaching Institutions
Given the nature of teaching institutions—where individuals in training participate in patient care to varying degrees—the informed consent process is more complex and can present additional liability risks.
Feb 23, 2023
To Friend or Not To Friend on Social Media
David L. Feldman, MD, MBA, FACS, Chief Medical Officer, The Doctors Company and TDC Group, provides insight on utilizing social media for medical-related discussions.
Feb 10, 2023
Communication Breakdowns Lead to Missed Spinal Epidural Abscess: Case Study
Experts discuss a case involving multiple communication breakdowns that contributed to the patient’s poor outcome and provide strategies to improve processes.
Jan 12, 2023
Tap, Tap: See Better Patient Results, and Provider Scores, with SMS Outreach
Sue Boisvert, BSN, MHSA, DFASHRM, Senior Patient Safety Risk Manager, The Doctors Company, provides commentary on how patient text messaging is increasing in use for certain healthcare settings.
Jan 04, 2023
Effective Patient Communication: Strategies for Challenging Situations
Poor communication often results in poor treatment outcomes and patient dissatisfaction. Our patient safety and risk management guide provides expert strategies and guidance that can help you improve communication with patients and families.
Dec 15, 2022
The Clinician Voice Post-Roe: Speaking Up for Standards of Care
The spillover effects of the Supreme Court’s Dobbs decision, which overturned Roe v. Wade, mean that many clinicians face uncertainty regarding which treatment practices are still legal in their state. Accordingly, they may be unsure how to communicate with patients, or uncertain regarding their role in their institution’s planning conversations.
Dec 12, 2022
Top Seven Tips for Telehealth
Although telehealth demand has declined since the peak of the pandemic, it continues to be an integral part of healthcare delivery. These top recommendations can help minimize risks for practices that provide care via telemedicine.
Dec 01, 2022
Building a Culture of Safety in Healthcare, Part Two: Teamwork
Teamwork and communication are essential components of patient safety. In the second installment of his four-part series on safety culture, Chief Medical Officer David L. Feldman, MD, identifies best practices in communication to facilitate teamwork.
From
The Doctor’s Advocate
Oct 12, 2022
Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: Call or Text 988
The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is now 988, an easy-to-remember number for 24/7 crisis care.
Aug 30, 2022
Telephone Triage and Medical Advice Protocols
Telephone triage requires an accurate assessment of the patient’s concerns without the benefit of a face-to-face visit.
Aug 04, 2022
Miscommunication and Hurried Handoffs Threaten Patient Safety
Miscommunication and missed opportunities resulting from hurried handoffs can produce fatal results.
Jul 21, 2022
Effective Obstetrical Team Communication
Effective communication requires a team effort for the exchange of concise and relevant information.
Jun 16, 2022
Patient Billing Challenges: Frequently Asked Questions
Our experts answer common billing questions and provide strategies to help your practice address issues proactively.
Mar 31, 2022
Long COVID—What Physicians Should Know
Healthcare providers should remain aware of the biggest risks associated with long COVID, what factors can lead to malpractice suits, and how to reduce risk.
Mar 01, 2022
With Medical Implants, Hope and Plan for the Best, but Talk About the Worst
Even with common implant procedures, variability among human systems creates risks and uncertainties. Dr. David L. Feldman discusses the importance of a true informed consent process using shared decision making.
From
The Doctor’s Advocate
Feb 03, 2022
Informed Refusal
Documenting a patient’s refusal of test or treatment options is key to minimizing risk exposure.
Feb 02, 2022
Informed Consent: Substance and Signature
True informed consent is a process of managing a patient’s expectations. Every healthcare provider should develop an individual style and system, making it easier to avoid omissions and ensure consistency of application.
Jan 27, 2022
As Corporate Entities Enter Healthcare, Practices Can Respond via Patient-Centered Care
Corporate entities have always been involved in healthcare, but now mega corporations—from outside the medical space—are entering the field. The involvement of these large non-legacy corporate entities in healthcare is growing and is challenging—and while this trend brings some benefits, it will also impact how all clinicians provide healthcare.
Jan 05, 2022
Communicating with COVID-19 Vaccine-Hesitant Patients: Top Tips
As the number of Delta and Omicron variant cases increases alarmingly across the United States, more individuals are considering vaccination against COVID. It is important for physicians to be prepared to answer questions from patients about the various vaccines—particularly since some patients remain hesitant about receiving the vaccination.
Dec 15, 2021
Telephone Communication for Healthcare Providers: Safety Strategies
When casually or carelessly conducted, telephone communications can lead to diagnostic errors and misunderstandings that can culminate in professional malpractice claims
Professional Education
Alzheimer's 4: Addressing Patients' and Families' Needs through the Disease Stages of Dementia
This activity includes seven video lectures and is the fourth in a series of four courses that seek to educate clinicians on standardized screening, evaluation, and disease management of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. This fourth course covers life planning through disease stages, assessing and assisting caregivers, improving communications, utilizing community resources, and end of life decision-making. These sensitive conversations with patients. The course finishes with a focus on dementia resources, effective communication strategies, and understanding when it is time to make a referral to a specialist.
Professional Education
Alzheimer's 2: Evaluation and Diagnosis of Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias
This activity includes eight video lectures and is the second in a series of four courses that seek to educate clinicians on standardized screening, evaluation, and disease management of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. This second course introduces the Alzheimer’s project evaluation algorithm and evaluation instruments and focuses on differential diagnoses. Finally, the course discusses how to prepare and engage in a sensitive dementia diagnosis disclosure with patients and caregivers.
Sep 08, 2021
Terminating Patient Relationships
If it becomes necessary to end a patient relationship that is no longer therapeutic or appropriate based on patient behaviors, it is critical to end the relationship in a manner that will not lead to claims of discrimination or abandonment.
Professional Education
Patient Relations: Spotlight on Challenging Situations
The Doctors Company’s dedicated patient safety risk managers deliver a wide range of expert services and resources to our members—including personal telephone consultations to help guide members through challenging situations. A recent review of our call data shows that “patient relations” and “patient termination” consistently appear as the top reasons that members request assistance. The following strategies can help prevent challenging patient situations and provide guidance if one occurs.
Aug 30, 2021
Patient Relations: Anticipate and Address Challenging Situations
A review of call data revealed that patient relations and patient terminations are the top reasons that members request help from our patient safety risk managers.
From
The Doctor’s Advocate
Aug 04, 2021
Cognitive Assessments in Primary Care: Preparation and Tools May Mitigate Diagnosis Risks
Recent reimbursement changes by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) allow primary care providers to meet their patients’ mental health needs and help build their practices by performing cognitive assessments.
Jul 14, 2021
12 Strategies for Success With Open Notes in Healthcare: The Cures Act
On April 5, 2021, the 21st Century Cures Act prohibition on information blocking, also known as the requirement for open notes, went into effect. All providers who use electronic health records (EHRs) must comply, and patients must be able to access information in their EHRs “without delay.”
Jul 14, 2021
Open Notes in Healthcare: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly of the Cures Act
Patient access to records is not new, and neither is the Cures Act, which dates to 2016. What is new is the requirement that patients have electronic records access that is fast and easy. This requirement is expected to result in more patients—still a small proportion overall, but more patients—accessing additional EHR information, including providers’ notes.
Jul 14, 2021
Open Notes: Healthcare Providers Should Prepare Now for 2023 and the Cures Act
The 21st Century Cures Act is a multiphase, multidomain piece of legislation whose requirements for healthcare providers are in effect now, and increase over time. Between pushing for electronic health record (EHR) interoperability and funding vast, ambitious research and data-collection initiatives, the act attempts to harness our collective data-gathering power for medical good.
Jul 14, 2021
What Open Notes Exceptions Does the Cures Act Allow?
As of April 5, 2021, patients must be able to access information in their electronic health records (EHRs) “without delay.” Unless an exception applies, clinical notes must not be blocked. But what exceptions to open notes does the Cures Act allow—or in some cases, require?
Jun 17, 2021
Deferred, Delayed, Disrupted: Mitigating Risks from Care During COVID-19
The pandemic has disrupted healthcare so thoroughly that in some sense, COVID-19 has affected all of healthcare. The effect on care has been stunning in magnitude. By mid-2020, more than 40 percent of U.S. adults had delayed medical care or avoided it entirely, including care for urgent and emergent complaints.
Jun 09, 2021
Prevent, Communicate, Document: Medical Malpractice Data Help Us Manage Risk
Medical malpractice data provide a rich source of information, offering insights into high-risk specialties, medical conditions, and procedures that result in claims.
From
The Doctor’s Advocate
Apr 15, 2021
Best Practices in Patient-Centered Care and Shared Decision Making
Using a patient-centered approach with shared decision making benefits patients by incorporating their needs and priorities into the treatment plan.
Mar 24, 2021
Patient Selection for Elective Cosmetic Procedures
The patient selection process is a valuable tool that can help you reduce risks when you assess prospective patients for elective cosmetic procedures.
Mar 23, 2021
Prescribing Opioids Safely: How to Have Difficult Patient Conversations
Drug overdose is the leading cause of accidental death in the U.S., and opioids account for over 60 percent of those deaths. Building a strong doctor-patient rapport can help facilitate tough conversations with patients about opioid prescriptions and reduce risks that could lead to malpractice suits.
Mar 03, 2021
Universal Masking Calls for More Structured Communication in Healthcare
COVID-19 calls for the adoption of structured communication systems across the board. Chief Medical Officer Dr. David L. Feldman highlights steps individuals and institutions can take today.
From
The Doctor’s Advocate
Mar 03, 2021
Flexibility and Communication Save Lives in NYC: Incorporating Lessons Learned Through Waves of COVID-19
Guest author Dr. Andrew Racine shares valuable insights gleaned from treating patients during the first surge of the COVID-19 pandemic.
From
The Doctor’s Advocate
Feb 12, 2021
Rx for Patient Safety: Use Ask Me 3 to Improve Patient Engagement and Communication
Although patients commonly nod their heads and indicate they understand, communication issues pose challenges in many practices. Implementing the Ask Me 3 program can improve patient-provider communication.
Professional Education
TeamSTEPPS® Teamwork Training in the Office Practice
This course provides an overview of the evidence-based TeamSTEPPS® concepts, tools, and strategies based on the four areas of 1) leadership, 2) mutual support, 3) situation monitoring, and 4) communication. TeamSTEPPS training provides teachable/learnable skills that improve
communication and teamwork among healthcare professionals in both acute care and ambulatory care environments.
Dec 14, 2020
How Medical Scribes Are Trained—And Used—Varies Widely
Though it is the fastest growing medical field, there is little regulation or standardization for training medical scribes.
Professional Education
It's the Little Things: An Introduction to Enhancing Patient Relations and Reducing Risks
It's the Little Things is designed to assist medical practices with improvements in patient interactions by looking at how incorporating hospitality as a focus makes a difference. It has been developed to improve multiple facets of patient interaction.
Dec 08, 2020
Suicide Prevention: Primary Care Is a Crucial Setting for Identifying Risk
At any given time, some of your patients are having thoughts of suicide. Effective suicide prevention requires a comprehensive approach.
Dec 07, 2020
Convincing Patients Not to Delay Necessary In-Person Care During COVID-19: Top 5 Tips
As patients’ fears intensify with the current surge in COVID-19 cases, many practices are presented with a three-fold problem: Patients not getting the care they need, a decline in revenue from in-person appointments, and potential liability risks presented by patients who experience adverse events because of a delayed diagnosis—the number one cause of medical malpractice suits.
Nov 04, 2020
Smartphones, Texts, and HIPAA: Strategies to Protect Patient Privacy
The very convenience that makes using smartphone technologies so inviting may also create privacy and security violations.
Jul 07, 2020
Weekend Call Presents Unique Challenges with Surrogate Birth
Communication among healthcare providers, patients, and adoptive parents is critical.
Jan 30, 2020
Doctors: How to Talk to Patients About Nutrition and Diet
No more powerful an approach exists to preventing or even reversing heart disease than improving lifestyle, especially nutrition and diet. The challenge for physicians is finding an effective way to talk about nutrition with their patients, because the usual admonitions to eat better and exercise often do not work.
Dec 20, 2019
Burnout Can Affect How Patients Communicate
If a physician appears burned out, patients may avoid asking questions for fear of adding to the stress.
Dec 11, 2019
Cultural Diversity Creates Language Barriers: Reducing Claims with Multilingual Patients
Clear and unambiguous communication constitutes the key component of the physician-patient relationship. Proactively implementing office procedures to promote optimum communication reduces the risk of disputes.
Nov 05, 2019
When Treating Kids, Learn from the Emergency Department
To prevent communication gaps when treating kids, all specialties can benefit from lessons learned in the Emergency Department, where conversations are rushed, stakes are high, teams are assembled ad hoc, and physicians seldom have relationships with the patient.
May 24, 2018
Physician Learning Must Evolve to Keep Healthcare Workforce Prepared
Funded by a grant from The Doctors Company Foundation, Mt. Sinai is the first hospital in New York that has established a program designed specifically to assess and address some of the unique communication challenges facing hospitalists to improve patient care.
Feb 18, 2017
Up for Review: Five Keys to Managing Online Criticism
No matter how professional and caring a doctor you may be, eventually you will face criticism on the web. Here are five keys to managing that criticism.