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Practice Management/Improvement

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Dec 02, 2024
Want to Retain Practitioners and Improve Patient Safety? Align Practice Culture
Daniel Kent Cassavar, MD, MBA, Medical Director, The Doctors Company and TDC Group
Healthcare systems that foster cultural alignment can better retain practitioners, control costs, and improve patient safety.
From The Doctor’s Advocate

Nov 13, 2024
COVID-19 and Patient Safety in the Medical and Dental Office
Debra Kane Hill, MBA, RN, Senior Patient Safety Risk Manager, The Doctors Company, Part of TDC Group
As COVID-19 persists across the spectrum of healthcare, medical and dental practices must remain mindful of new variants, infection rates, vaccines, protocols, and resources.

Oct 09, 2024
Medical and Dental Records Guide
Our comprehensive guide offers actionable strategies to help you safeguard and manage patient records.

Oct 09, 2024
Telephone Triage and Advice: Patient Safety Strategies
Debra Kane Hill, MBA, RN, CPHRM, Senior Patient Safety Risk Manager, and Richard F. Cahill, JD, Vice President and Associate General Counsel, The Doctors Company, Part of TDC Group
Communications involving telephone triage and advice present a significant area of liability exposure for practitioners.

Oct 01, 2024, Healthcare Risk Management
Respond Carefully to Notice of Intent
Richard Cahill, JD, Vice President and Associate General Counsel, The Doctors Company, part of TDC Group, shares suggestions for how to properly respond to patients who communicate their intent to sue.

Sep 20, 2024
Recording Office Visits and Procedures: Pros and Cons for Healthcare Professionals
Richard F. Cahill, JD, Vice President and Associate General Counsel, The Doctors Company, Part of TDC Group
Proactively addressing the use of electronic recordings can help practitioners avoid misunderstandings, reputational damage, and potential liability.

Sep 01, 2024
Patient Billing Challenges: Frequently Asked Questions
Richard F. Cahill, JD, Vice President and Associate General Counsel, The Doctors Company, Part of TDC Group
We offer strategies to address common questions about patient billing concerns.

Aug 06, 2024
Office-Based Medical Malpractice Claims: Study Examines Administrative and Clinical Systems Factors
Jacqueline Ross, RN, PhD, Coding Director, and Patti L. Ellis, RN, CPHRM, Patient Safety Risk Manager II, Department of Patient Safety and Risk Management, The Doctors Company, Part of TDC Group
Ensuring patient safety is the goal in each office encounter. As evidenced by medical malpractice claims, however, harmful errors can occur that lead to poor outcomes for patients. We have conducted an analysis to better understand the underlying administrative and clinical systems factors that contribute to office-based medical malpractice claims.

Aug 05, 2024
Terminating Patient Relationships
Julie Brightwell, JD, RN, Director, Healthcare Systems Patient Safety, and Richard F. Cahill, JD, Vice President and Associate General Counsel, The Doctors Company, Part of TDC Group
If it becomes necessary to end a patient relationship, it is critical to end the relationship in a manner that will not lead to claims of discrimination or abandonment, litigation for alleged professional negligence, or complaints to administrative agencies.

Aug 05, 2024,
Don’t Let Patient Disputes Escalate; Plan to Protect Yourself
Richard Cahill, JD, Vice President and Associate General Counsel, The Doctors Company, part of TDC Group, contributes recommendations for managing troublesome minor patient disputes.

Jun 24, 2024, Part B News
While Bird Flu Crossover Risk Remains Low, Take Easy Steps to Be Ready
Given recent global and national concerns over the possibility of animal-to-human transmission of bird flu (H5N1), practices should take steps to get ready. Rich Cahill, Vice President and Associate General Counsel at The Doctors Company, shares the most up-to-date guidance.

Jun 18, 2024
Choose Your Most Important Quality Measure, Examine for Equity, and Begin
Mark D. Smith, MD, MBA, Clinical Professor of Medicine, UCSF; Founding President, California Health Care Foundation
Guest author Mark D. Smith, MD, MBA, considers the connections between equity and high-quality care and offers strategies for prioritizing efforts.
From The Doctor’s Advocate

Jun 01, 2024, Healthcare Risk Management
Falls Remain a Leading Safety Problem, Still Need Attention
Richard Cahill, JD, Vice President and Associate General Counsel, The Doctors Company, part of TDC Group, provides insight on how practices should respond to and prevent patient falls.

May 20, 2024, Part B News
CMS: In AWV, SDOH Assessment Can Occur Days Before Visit; Append Modifier
Richard Cahill, JD, Vice President and Associate General Counsel, The Doctors Company, part of TDC Group, discusses a Change Request pertaining to the use of social determinants of health (SDOH) risk assessments during Medicare annual wellness visits (AWV).

May 20, 2024, Part B News
Must You Rehire Suspended Providers Who Get Their License Back? Look to Contract
Richard Cahill, JD, Vice President and Associate General Counsel, The Doctors Company, part of TDC Group, provides insight on how practices should respond when suspended providers get their licenses back.

Apr 30, 2024
Mislabeled Diagnostic Specimens Put Lab Team at Risk: Patient Safety Impact Story
A clinical laboratory team that provides diagnostic evaluation of specimens sent in from multiple practices noticed an increase in tissue specimens arriving mislabeled, prompting a Practice Risk INSIGHT review by The Doctors Company.

Apr 29, 2024, Part B News
‘Administrative’ Fees for Patient Messages? Not if It’s About Treatment
Richard Cahill, JD, Vice President and Associate General Counsel, The Doctors Company, part of TDC Group, discusses the importance of documented policies and procedures surrounding non-medical services, like text communication, practices might charge for.

Apr 22, 2024, Part B News
Measles in Your Office? Follow CDC Rules, Take Caution in Telling Patients
Richard Cahill, JD, Vice President and Associate General Counsel, The Doctors Company, part of TDC Group, discusses the importance of patient communication and disclosure surrounding possible measles exposure.

Mar 14, 2024
Simulation-Based Training Prepares Practitioners for High-Risk Events
Pamela J. Chambers, DNP, EJD, MSN, CRNA, CPPS, FAANA, Assistant Professor, Nurse Anesthesia Program, Rosalind Franklin University; Recent Two-Term Member, Board of Directors, National Board of Certification and Recertification for Nurse Anesthetists; Member, TDC Group APC Advisory Board
SIM-based learning benefits clinicians in a variety of specialties, but it is especially important for those who work in high-acuity, high-risk areas like anesthesia.

Mar 04, 2024
Combating Workplace Violence in the Healthcare Office Practice
Julia N. Goldman, JD, Associate Attorney, Goldman Law Firm
Attorney Julia Goldman outlines strategies for implementing an effective plan to combat workplace violence.
From The Doctor’s Advocate

Mar 04, 2024
Proactively Manage Patient Expectations With a Conditions of Treatment Agreement
Debra Kane Hill, MBA, RN, Senior Patient Safety Risk Manager, and Richard F. Cahill, JD, Vice President and Associate General Counsel, The Doctors Company
Protect your practice with a plan to proactively manage challenging patient behaviors.
From The Doctor’s Advocate

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 05, 2024
Patient Experience Surveys
Use our patient experience surveys to measure satisfaction and uncover areas of concern in your practice.

Dec 27, 2023, Managed Healthcare Executive
2024 Prediction from Robert E. White Jr.
Robert E. White Jr., President, The Doctors Company, part of TDC Group, offers his prediction for how social inflation will impact practices’ medical malpractice premiums in 2024.

Dec 19, 2023, PSQH
Patient Safety Predictions for 2024
Robert E. White Jr., President, and Laura Kline, MBA, CPCU, Senior Vice President of Business Development, The Doctors Company, part of TDC Group, offer their predictions for what will happen in patient safety and healthcare quality in 2024.

Video Dec 18, 2023
Is American Healthcare in Crisis?
Richard E. Anderson, MD, FACP, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of The Doctors Company and TDC Group, discusses the current state of the American healthcare system.

Dec 11, 2023, Part B News
Thwart Abuse: Consider Opt-out,Training in Chaperone Policy
Richard Cahill, JD, Vice President and Associate General Counsel, The Doctors Company, part of TDC Group, provides policy suggestions for healthcare providers to implement that can help defend against sexual harassment allegations.

Dec 05, 2023
Set Expectations for New Patients With a Conditions of Treatment Agreement
Debra Kane Hill, MBA, RN, Senior Patient Safety Risk Manager, and Richard F. Cahill, JD, Vice President and Associate General Counsel, The Doctors Company
Consider developing a plan to preemptively manage challenging patient behaviors when they are first identified.

Nov 09, 2023, Medscape
Recording Residents' Patient Exams Raises Skills―And Privacy Concerns
Richard F. Cahill, Esq., Vice President and Associate General Counsel, The Doctors Company, part of TDC Group, provides strategies for healthcare providers and clinics to avoid legal trouble surrounding patient recording.

Oct 26, 2023
Documentation Can Prevent Litigation: Patient Safety Impact Story
Our Patient Safety INSIGHT Services and extensive library of resources and tools take a data-driven approach to help you reduce adverse events while increasing patient safety and satisfaction. Here is one story of how our Patient Safety/Risk Management team reduced risk in a member practice.

Member Exclusive Oct 26, 2023
Guided Risk Self-Assessment Exclusively for Member Practices
The Guided Risk Self-Assessment contains risk mitigation strategies to assist healthcare professionals in medical or dental offices. This program will help practitioners and their staff develop a comprehensive understanding of practice risks and learn specific actions to prevent patient injuries and professional liability claims.

Sep 01, 2023
AI Can Lift Administrative Burdens and Restore Joy in Practice
Aaron Neinstein, MD, Chief Medical Officer, Notable
Aaron Neinstein, MD, explores artificial intelligence technologies that can streamline mundane administrative tasks and give clinicians more time to focus on patients.
From The Doctor’s Advocate

Sep 01, 2023, Part B News
Head Off Problem Patients With Signed Agreements, Legal Review: Expert
Richard F. Cahill, Esq., Vice President and Associate General Counsel, The Doctors Company, part of TDC Group, discusses the rights and responsibilities of practice managers who wish to remove or stop admitting troublesome patients.

Professional Education
Artificial Intelligence: Harnessing AI to Augment Care
Artificial intelligence offers tools that can enable us to regain time to focus on our patients and restore joy to the practice of medicine.
0.5 credit

Aug 18, 2023
Limited English Proficiency (LEP) Patients: Frequently Asked Questions
Debra Kane Hill, MBA, RN, Senior Patient Safety Risk Manager, and Richard F. Cahill, JD, Vice President and Associate General Counsel, The Doctors Company
To help you understand LEP requirements, we have compiled a list of frequently asked questions with strategies to ensure compliance.

Aug 09, 2023
Quick Check Tools: Improve Your Practice Processes
Our easy-to-use Quick Check tools can help your practice identify processes that need to be updated. Each printable checklist also includes a resource list and contact details for additional guidance.

Jul 28, 2023
Quick Check: Telehealth Care
Using our Quick Check tool can help you minimize potential liability risks associated with telehealth care.

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 28, 2023
Quick Check: Appointment Management
Using our Quick Check tool can help you improve your practice’s appointment management process.

Jul 25, 2023
Pediatrics: Consider Car Window Hammers for Your Office Emergency Response Kit
Patti L. Ellis, RN, CPHRM, Patient Safety Risk Manager II, The Doctors Company
Seconds count if an infant, toddler, or young child is accidentally locked inside a hot vehicle. A car window hammer can be a lifesaving tool to include in an emergency response cart or kit.

Jul 06, 2023, Physician's Practice
What Your Practice Can Do About Medication Safety
David L. Feldman, MD, MBA, FACS, Chief Medical Officer, and Richard F. Cahill, JD, Vice President and Associate General Counsel, write about the risks from medication errors and offer best practices for medication monitoring and management.

Jul 05, 2023, Medical Device & Technology
Realistic Reasons Why Stakeholders in the Medical Device and Technologies Industries Need to be Prepared for Legal Challenges
David L. Feldman, MD, MBA, FACS, Chief Medical Officer for The Doctors Company and TDC Group, discusses the importance of understanding and evaluating medical devices and technology prior to utilization.

Jul 01, 2023
Are You Prepared for a Medicare Recovery Audit Contractor (RAC) Audit?
Kathleen Stillwell, MPA/HSA, RN, Senior Patient Safety Risk Manager, The Doctors Company
RAC audits can be triggered by innocent documentation errors. These strategies can help you assess your risk for coding and billing errors and establish compliance and practice standards.

Jun 12, 2023, Part B News
As Gun Laws Loosen, Prepare for Possibly Armed Patients
As gun laws grow more permissive across the country, clinicians should be aware of the possibility that patients may attend medical appointments armed. Richard F. Cahill, Esq., Vice President and Associate General Counsel, The Doctors Company, part of TDC Group, provides guidance how to prepare for untoward events.

May 30, 2023
Americans with Disabilities Act: Frequently Asked Questions
Debra Kane Hill, MBA, RN, Senior Patient Safety Risk Manager, and Richard F. Cahill, JD, Vice President and Associate General Counsel, The Doctors Company
Practitioners can face steep penalties for failing to comply with federal mandates that protect individuals with disabilities.

May 22, 2023
Laboratory and Diagnostic Test Tracking in Ambulatory Practice
Dana Faber, MS PSL, RN, Senior Patient Safety Risk Manager, The Doctors Company
Managing patient test results in ambulatory practices can pose a significant challenge. Establishing a standardized workflow to track results is a successful strategy for avoiding missed or delayed diagnosis that can lead to patient injury.

Apr 25, 2023
Nonadherent and Noncompliant Patients: Overcoming Barriers
Richard Cahill, JD, Vice President and Associate General Counsel, The Doctors Company
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.

Mar 20, 2023
Sexual Harassment Allegations in Healthcare: Rising Risks
Richard Cahill, JD, Vice President and Associate General Counsel, The Doctors Company
Healthcare practitioners are not immune from the growing number of reported incidents of alleged sexual harassment in the workplace. This article provides risk mitigation strategies.

Mar 07, 2023
Building a Culture of Safety in Healthcare, Part Three: Human Factors Engineering
David L. Feldman, MD, MBA, FACS, Chief Medical Officer, The Doctors Company and TDC Group; Senior Vice President, Healthcare Risk Advisors
In the third installment of his four-part series on safety culture, Dr. David Feldman discusses the benefits of human factors engineering.
From The Doctor’s Advocate

Mar 07, 2023
Primary Care Innovations Can Deepen the Specialty
Megan Mahoney, MD, MBA, Professor and Chair, UCSF Department of Family and Community Medicine and Member, The Doctors Company Board of Governors
Dr. Megan Mahoney outlines ways that team-focused innovations in care models and technologies can help preserve depth in primary care, even as it faces a physician shortage.
From The Doctor’s Advocate

Member Exclusive Feb 21, 2023
Risk Management Fundamentals for the Practice Manager
Our complimentary program is exclusive to all member practice managers, both clinical and nonclinical, who are new to the role or seek further education regarding the application of risk management and patient safety measures (or principles) in an office-based medical or dental practice.

Jan 18, 2023
Healthcare Staffing Shortages: Decrease Practice Risks
Richard F. Cahill, JD, Vice President and Associate General Counsel, and Patti L. Ellis, RN, CPHRM, Patient Safety Risk Manager II, The Doctors Company
Ongoing staffing shortages negatively influence the quality and depth of many primary and support roles throughout the healthcare workforce. The scarcity of employees has also contributed to elevated levels of stress and burnout.

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 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.

Dec 01, 2022
Building a Culture of Safety in Healthcare, Part Two: Teamwork
David L. Feldman, MD, MBA, FACS, Chief Medical Officer, The Doctors Company and TDC Group; Senior Vice President, Healthcare Risk Advisors
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

Dec 01, 2022
The Patient Safety Risks of Burnout—and the Path to Professional Fulfillment
Christine Sinsky, MD, Vice President, Professional Satisfaction, American Medical Association
While burnout manifests in individuals, it originates in systems. Guest author Christine Sinsky, MD, highlights resources that can help clinicians improve practice efficiencies and ease administrative burdens.
From The Doctor’s Advocate

Professional Education
Burnout: Spotlight on Improving Practice Efficiencies
In this CME program, Christine Sinsky, MD, highlights practice redesign strategies to help clinicians improve practice efficiencies, recover professional fulfillment, and improve patient safety.
0.5 credit

Nov 30, 2022
Healthcare Inequities Post-Roe: Clinician Perspectives
Many states with abortion bans are also states with higher proportions of people of color, increasing the uneven impacts of the Dobbs decision, which overturned Roe v. Wade.

Nov 17, 2022
Financial and Workplace Well-Being for Doctors: Lessons for Life After Medical School
This free, academic lecture series is designed to help doctors take control of their financial and workplace well-being, so they can focus on what they do best—providing superior patient care.

Oct 20, 2022
Job Shadowing: Observers, Volunteers, and Students in Clinical Settings
Kim Hathaway, MSN, CPHRM, Patient Safety Healthcare Quality and Risk Management Consultant, The Doctors Company
Create guidelines to prevent practice risks, eliminate patient harm, and protect patient privacy.

Sep 19, 2022
Building a Culture of Safety in Healthcare, Part One: Mutual Respect
David L. Feldman, MD, MBA, FACS, Chief Medical Officer, The Doctors Company and TDC Group; Senior Vice President, Healthcare Risk Advisors
Mutual respect is the foundation of patient safety, risk reduction, and professional satisfaction. In the first article of a four-part series, Dr. David Feldman outlines strategies for fostering respect in healthcare.
From The Doctor’s Advocate

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.

Mar 22, 2022
Reduce Clinician Burnout and Improve Well-Being With People-First Leadership
Robert D. Morton, MAS, CPPS, Assistant Vice President, Department of Patient Safety and Risk Management, The Doctors Company
Solving burnout requires a comprehensive organizational commitment and people-first leaders who have the tenacity to change systems and deliver solutions.

Professional Education
Burnout: Spotlight on System Changes
There is a national movement to address the systemic causes of clinician burnout. Read the article "Clinician Burnout: From a Crisis to a Movement" to learn ways that clinicians can create system change in their own work environments.
0.5 credit

Feb 23, 2022
Pediatrics: Addressing Social Determinants of Health and Adverse Childhood Experiences
Marcie Ward, RN, Senior Clinical Consultant, Medical Advantage, and Patti L. Ellis, RN, CPHRM, Patient Safety Risk Manager II, The Doctors Company
The role of the pediatrician, which encompasses the management of a child’s physical, behavioral, and mental health, is critical in preventing and mitigating childhood adversity and trauma.

Jan 27, 2022
As Corporate Entities Enter Healthcare, Practices Can Respond via Patient-Centered Care
Richard E. Anderson, MD, FACP, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, The Doctors Company and TDC Group
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.

Dec 15, 2021
Telephone Communication for Healthcare Providers: Safety Strategies
Nicole Franklin, MS, CPHRM, Patient Safety Risk Manager II, The Doctors Company
When casually or carelessly conducted, telephone communications can lead to diagnostic errors and misunderstandings that can culminate in professional malpractice claims

Nov 26, 2019
How Healthcare’s Transformation Affects Physicians and Patients
Richard E. Anderson, MD, FACP, Chairman and CEO, The Doctors Company
Richard E. Anderson, MD, FACP, chairman and CEO of The Doctors Company, discusses some of the most pressing issues facing providers today, including rising healthcare spending and hospital mergers.

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