Orthopedics

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 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
Medical Malpractice and the Volunteer Team Physician
Michael C. Koester, MD, Slocum Center for Orthopedic and Sports Medicine
Community physicians have long served as local high school team physicians. Michael C. Koester, MD, discusses the potential liability risks.
From The Doctor’s Advocate

Aug 22, 2023, KevinMD
For Orthopedic Surgeons, an All-of-the-Above Approach Lowers Liability Risks
Jacqueline Ross, RN, PhD, Coding Director, and Eric E. Cleckler, MSN, RN, Patient Safety Risk Manager II, Department of Patient Safety and Risk Management, The Doctors Company, part of TDC Group, analyze orthopedic medical malpractice insurance claims and translate the findings into patient safety insights to help medical professionals pursue best practices for risk mitigation.

Aug 11, 2023
Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Malpractice Claims: Lessons Learned
Michelle Swift, JD, RN, Senior Patient Safety Risk Manager, The Doctors Company
We analyzed closed physical medicine and rehabilitation claims to better understand what motivates allegations of injury.

Jun 23, 2023
The Malpractice Experience of Orthopedic Surgeons 2011 to 2021: Patient Selection and Communication May Mitigate Risk of Claims
Jacqueline Ross, RN, PhD, Coding Director, and Eric E. Cleckler, MSN, RN, Patient Safety Risk Manager II, Department of Patient Safety and Risk Management, The Doctors Company, Part of TDC Group
This study analyzed 1559 closed medical malpractice claims and suits (814 ambulatory, 745 inpatient) from the loss years of 2011 to 2021 in which orthopedic surgeons were the major responsible service.

Jun 14, 2023
Medical Malpractice and Preparticipation Sports Physicals
Michael C. Koester, MD, Slocum Center for Orthopedic and Sports Medicine
Physicians should be aware of liability risks associated with preparticipation sports physicals.

Oct 24, 2022
Why Medical Clearance Is Really a Preoperative Evaluation
Debra Davidson, MJ, CPHRM, Senior Patient Safety Risk Manager, The Doctors Company, and David L. Feldman, MD, MBA, FACS, Chief Medical Officer, The Doctors Company and TDC Group; Senior Vice President, Healthcare Risk Advisors
The goals of the preoperative evaluation are to determine the patient's level of risk and to identify opportunities to mitigate it.

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.

Aug 26, 2022
Hip and Knee Replacements: An Examination of Malpractice Claims Against Orthopedic Surgeons From the Ambulatory and Inpatient Settings
Jacqueline Ross, RN, PhD, Coding Director, Department of Patient Safety and Risk Management
The literature related to malpractice claims comparing inpatient and ambulatory knee and hip replacements has so far been limited. Therefore, the purpose of this novel study was to explore potential differences between the two settings in malpractice claims for surgery.

Professional Education
Team Physicians: Mitigating Liability Risks
Physicians serving as volunteer team physicians for high school or other community sports programs are often unaware of potential liability risks.
0.5 credit

Mar 01, 2022
With Medical Implants, Hope and Plan for the Best, but Talk About the Worst
David L. Feldman, MD, MBA, FACS, Chief Medical Officer, The Doctors Company and TDC Group; Senior Vice President, Healthcare Risk Advisors
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

Professional Education
Orthopedic Surgery: Navigating the Risks
According to the MPL Association's recent study, the average indemnity payment for an orthopedic surgery claim is $346,336. Closed claims data from The Doctors Company and the MPL Association involving allegations against orthopedic surgeons were analyzed to gain insight and knowledge for reducing malpractice risk. Common trends and top contributing factors are revealed.
0.8 credit

Professional Education
Patient Safety in Spine Surgery
Spine surgery requires a series of best practice patient safety interventions to reduce the frequency and severity of patient harm while giving the care team the resources to mitigate such harm. Evidence-based clinical methods, pathways, and tools coupled with an evolving culture of patient safety through effective communication, teams, and teamwork has shown to reduce patient harm exponentially. Patient and clinical team experiences are enhanced while ensuring a learning culture is built that approaches surgery from both a technical and nontechnical approach alike.
1.2 credits

Dec 23, 2020
Podiatry: Lessons from Malpractice Claims
Carol Murray, RHIA, CPHRM, Senior Patient Safety Risk Manager, The Doctors Company
We analyzed 162 podiatric claims to identify top allegations and factors contributing to patient injury.

Dec 23, 2020
Orthopedics Case Study: The Danger of EHR Templates
Robin L. Wessels, MBA, RN, Assistant Vice President, Department of Patient Safety and Risk Management, The Doctors Company
This example of an orthopedic claim involving accurate medical record documentation illustrates the importance of exercising caution when using EHR templates.

Oct 05, 2020
Orthopedics: Informed Consent
Robert Morton, CPHRM, CPPS, Assistant Vice President, Department of Patient Safety and Risk Management, and Dana Faber, MS PSL, RN, Senior Patient Safety Risk Manager, Department of Patient Safety and Risk Management
Inadequate informed consent communication between the surgeon and the patient/family is a top factor contributing to claims against orthopedists.

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.

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 Mar 21, 2018
What to Expect from Litigation: Dr. Wuest's Perspective
Thomas K. Wuest, MD, MMM, an orthopedic trauma surgeon in Eugene, Oregon, describes his experience defending himself against a medical malpractice suit involving a man who fell over 20 feet from a utility pole and sustained multiple injuries.