Obstetrics and Gynecology Resources

Feb 03, 2025
Midwives, Are You Covered? 5 Questions to Ask About Professional Liability Insurance
Ginger Breedlove, PhD, CNM, FACNM, FAAN, Founder and Principal Consultant of Grow Midwives LLC and Member, TDC Group APC Advisory Board
Midwives face distinct, significant, and long-lasting liability risks, and providing excellent care is not enough to mitigate them. Careful consideration of liability coverage options is essential for midwives to protect their licenses, reputations, professional and geographic mobility, and long-term financial health.

Dec 09, 2024
Is Your Patient a Victim of Human Trafficking?
Patti L. Ellis, RN, CPHRM, FASHRM, Patient Safety Risk Manager II, The Doctors Company, Part of TDC Group
Although trafficking victims rarely find opportunities to interact with others, a visit to a physician or dental practice may provide an opportunity for a victim to receive help. Learn to recognize the signs of human trafficking and know what steps to take.

Oct 21, 2024
Dispensing Sample Medications: Risk Management Strategies
Debra Kane Hill, MBA, RN, Senior Patient Safety Risk Manager, The Doctors Company, Part of TDC Group
If not carefully managed, sample medications can create issues that place patients and the practice at risk.

Sep 09, 2024
Shoulder Dystocia Documentation: Implementing a Protocol
Pamela Willis, BSN, JD, Senior Patient Safety Risk Manager, The Doctors Company, Part of TDC Group
Shoulder dystocia claims have traditionally been among the most problematic to defend.

Mar 05, 2024, Business Insurance
Alabama Embryo Ruling May Increase Med Mal Risks
Robert White, President of The Doctors Company and TDC Group, discusses the potential impacts the recent IVF ruling in Alabama will have on healthcare professionals.

Feb 21, 2024
Identifying Malpractice Risks for Surgical Practices
Julie Brightwell, JD, RN, Director, Healthcare Systems Patient Safety, The Doctors Company, Part of TDC Group
Understanding that the causes of claims are multifactorial and rarely result from individual judgment or technical skill alone can help surgeons improve outcomes.

Jan 30, 2024
Patient Safety Strategies for Surrogate Births
Pamela Willis, BSN, JD, Senior Patient Safety Risk Manager, The Doctors Company, Part of TDC Group
Surrogate pregnancies present unique challenges that require planning and clear communication.

Jan 26, 2024
Maternal Health Closed Claim Review: Preparing a Facility for Emergencies
This case study highlights risk reduction strategies facilities can use to prepare for and address maternal health emergencies.

Jan 03, 2024
Healthcare Practitioners and On-Call Duties: Top Questions on Liability Risks
Richard F. Cahill, JD, Vice President and Associate General Counsel, The Doctors Company
Our experts respond to questions about medical staff bylaws and on-call service requirements.

Dec 21, 2023
Suicide Prevention: Primary Care Is a Crucial Setting for Identifying Risk
Debra Davidson, MJ, CPPS, Senior Patient Safety Risk Manager, The Doctors Company
At any given time, some of your patients are having thoughts of suicide. Effective suicide prevention requires a comprehensive approach.

Video Nov 15, 2023
Shoulder Dystocia: Physician-Patient Disclosure
The purpose of this video is to assist physicians 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 shown to positively influence outcomes by increasing patient understanding and trust.

Professional Education
Shoulder Dystocia Clinician-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.
0.5 credit

Oct 01, 2023
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 01, 2023
Obstetrics and Gynecology: Frequently Asked Patient Safety Questions
Pamela Willis, BSN, JD, Senior Patient Safety Risk Manager, The Doctors Company
Our experts answer questions about topics in obstetrics and gynecology, including cesarean delivery on maternal request and screening mammograms.

Jun 13, 2023
Patient Safety Tips for Obstetrics and Gynecology
Pamela Willis, BSN, JD, Senior Patient Safety Risk Manager, The Doctors Company
These strategies can help you keep your patients safe and reduce potential liability. The tips highlighted here include tracking test results, documenting prenatal records, discussing birth plans, and managing noncompliant patients.

May 11, 2023, Inside Medical Liability Online
Postpartum Malpractice Claims: Can We Understand Preventable Harms and Socioeconomic Factors?
Rates for maternal morbidity and mortality are higher in the U.S. than in any other developed country—and many of the harms suffered by patients are preventable. In a multifactorial study, David L. Feldman, MD, MBA, FACS, Chief Medical Officer, The Doctors Company and TDC Group; Jacqueline Ross, PhD, RN, CPAN, Coding Director, Department of Patient Safety and Risk Management, The Doctors Company, and Shelise Valentine, RNC, MSN, Director of Clinical Education, Healthcare Risk Advisors, part of TDC Group, investigated postpartum claims to develop clinical recommendations to decrease the risks of postpartum morbidity and mortality.

Apr 14, 2023
Postpartum Malpractice Claims: Understanding Preventable Harms and Socioeconomic Factors
Jacqueline Ross, RN, PhD, Coding Director, Department of Patient Safety and Risk Management, The Doctors Company, Part of TDC Group, and Shelise Valentine, RNC, MSN, Director of Clinical Education, Healthcare Risk Advisors, Part of TDC Group
Investigators reviewed 43 closed postpartum medical malpractice claims to develop clinical recommendations to decrease the risks of postpartum morbidity and mortality.

Mar 22, 2023
Remote Patient Monitoring: Considerations for Telehealth Care
Sue Boisvert, BSN, MHSA, Senior Patient Safety Risk Manager, The Doctors Company
Remote patient monitoring is advancing the safety and accuracy of telehealth by filling in some gaps and increasing the types of care that can safely be provided in the home.

Feb 07, 2023
An Unequal Burden: Reducing Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Maternal Health Outcomes
Because BIPOC patients bear the brunt of risks for maternal morbidity and mortality, improving maternal patient safety requires understanding the scope of racial and ethnic disparities in healthcare.

Jan 05, 2023
Five Key Concerns of Medical Professionals Post-Roe
In the wake of the Supreme Court ruling in Dobbs v. Jackson, which overturned Roe v. Wade, state restrictions are colliding with clinical judgment in ways unfamiliar to many medical professionals. Physicians and other healthcare providers are facing confusion and concern about how recent legal shifts affect them and their patients.

Video Dec 18, 2022
Treating Medical Emergencies in the Post-Roe Landscape
Ghazaleh Moayedi, DO, MPH, of Pegasus Health Justice Center, explains the challenges OB/GYNs face treating medical emergencies in the complex legal landscape following the overturning of Roe v. Wade.

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 13, 2022
Increased Risks of Delayed Care Post-Roe: Clinician Perspectives
In the wake of the Dobbs decision, which overturned Roe v. Wade, rapid changes in hospital protocols have at times amplified confusion over what is legally allowed when responding to ectopic pregnancy, miscarriage, or other obstetric complications. Clinicians in some states may feel pinned between their obligation to care for the patient and their obligation not to break the law.

Dec 09, 2022
Training Shortages Post-Roe: Medical Careers, Accreditation, and Patient Safety at Risk
The short-term disruptions faced by many medical professionals in the wake of the Dobbs decision, which overturned Roe v. Wade, have partially obscured a looming crisis in access to training.

Video Dec 08, 2022
Navigating Healthcare in a Post-Roe World
The repeal of Roe v. Wade created many challenges for physicians practicing reproductive healthcare. TDC Group hosted a panel of experts who discussed telehealth, legal implications, health inequities, physician training, emergency care, and the loss of physician voices in a post-roe world.

Video Nov 18, 2022
What Challenges Will Healthcare Professionals Face Following the Overturn of Roe v. Wade?
Sheila Dejbakhsh, MD, MPH, offers her perspective on what the future holds for healthcare professionals and patients in response to the Supreme Court decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization, to let states determine access to reproductive healthcare.

Nov 17, 2022
Telemedicine and Patient Care Access: Challenges in the Post-Roe Landscape
Telemedicine offers the potential both to bridge geographic gaps and to increase access to in-clinic appointments for pregnant patients. However, varying state laws and patient disparities continue to provide challenges for physicians.

Oct 18, 2022
Moderate or Conscious Sedation in the Office Setting
Julie Brightwell, JD, RN, Director, Healthcare System Patient Safety, Department of Patient Safety and Risk Management
Prevent patient injury when providing moderate sedation in the office by incorporating these patient safety and practice improvement strategies.

Sep 19, 2022
Mitigating the Legal Risks of Urinary Tract Injury Following Gynecologic Surgery
Pamela Willis, BSN, JD, Senior Patient Safety Risk Manager, The Doctors Company
A recent review of gynecologic surgery claims involving urinary tract fistulas reveals the importance of expanding the scope of the informed consent conversation prior to surgery.
From The Doctor’s Advocate

Professional Education
Urinary Tract Injury Following Gynecologic Surgery: Mitigating Risks (The Doctor's Advocate CME)
A recent review of gynecologic surgery claims involving urinary tract fistulas reveals the importance of expanding the scope of the informed consent conversation prior to surgery.
0.5 credit

Jul 21, 2022
Effective Obstetrical Team Communication
Pamela Willis, JD, RN, Senior Patient Safety Risk Manager, The Doctors Company
Effective communication requires a team effort for the exchange of concise and relevant information.

May 31, 2022
The Role of the Medical Assistant in Your Office Practice
Debra Kane Hill, MBA, RN, Senior Patient Safety Risk Manager, The Doctors Company
A medical assistant (MA) can be a valuable addition to an office practice, but MAs should not perform tasks outside their scope of practice.

Apr 01, 2022
Delay in Diagnosing Breast Cancer: A Case Summary and Tips to Reduce Risk
Lisa M. McCorkle, MSN, MBA, Senior Patient Safety Risk Manager, Department of Patient Safety and Risk Management, The Doctors Company
A delay in diagnosing breast cancer may result when a patient doesn’t follow through with diagnostic recommendations.

Sep 23, 2021
The Malpractice Experience of Obstetricians with Shoulder Dystocia: Preparation May Mitigate Risks With This Unpredictable Event
Jacqueline Ross, RN, PhD, Coding Director, Department of Patient Safety and Risk Management, The Doctors Company, Part of TDC Group; Larry Veltman, MD, FACOG, DFASHRM, Director, National Perinatal Information Center; and Peter S. Bernstein, MD, MPH, Professor and Program Director, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Women’s Health, Maternal Fetal Medicine, Albert Einstein College of Medicine
Shoulder dystocia (SD) is a rare complication of vaginal delivery. The purpose of this study was to better understand factors that may contribute to medical malpractice claims with SD and to offer recommendations to practicing obstetricians regarding the management of SD.

Aug 25, 2020
Distracting Devices in Healthcare: Malpractice Implications
Shelley Rizzo, MSN, CPHRM, Senior Patient Safety Risk Manager, The Doctors Company
Digital distraction in healthcare is a threat to patient safety and physician well-being. Personal electronic devices can create a digital distraction so engaging that it consumes awareness, potentially preventing healthcare providers from focusing on the primary task at hand—caring for and interacting with patients.

Aug 27, 2019
Electronic Health Records Continue to Lead to Medical Malpractice Suits
Darrell Ranum, JD, Vice President of Patient Safety and Risk Management
We analyzed 216 medical malpractice claims that closed from 2010 to 2018 in which EHRs contributed to patient injury. The pace of these claims grew, from a low of seven cases in 2010 to an average of 22.5 cases per year in 2017 and 2018. As EHRs approach near-universal adoption, they may become a more prevalent source of patient safety risk.

Mar 20, 2019
Study of Malpractice Claims Involving Children
Darrell Ranum, JD, CPHRM, Vice President, Patient Safety and Risk Management
The Doctors Company analyzed 1,215 claims filed on behalf of pediatric patients that closed from 2008 through 2017. The study is based on the claims filed against physicians in 52 specialties and subspecialties and includes an overview of the most common types of claims, expert insights into the specific elements that led to patient injury, and risk mitigation strategies.

Video Aug 05, 2018
What to Expect from Litigation: Dr. Nye's Perspective
Dr. Elizabeth R. Nye, an obstetrician and gynecologist in Chicago, describes how she defended herself against a medical malpractice lawsuit involving a complicated delivery that led to the death of the infant. Dr. Nye recounts the emotional impact of the lawsuit.

Video Feb 10, 2018
What to Expect from Litigation: Dr. Michelin's Perspective
Dr. David P. Michelin, a gynecologic oncologist in Traverse City, Michigan, relates his experience with a malpractice suit involving a hysterectomy and staging for uterine cancer.