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August 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.

Professional Education
Delayed Diagnosis of Sepsis (Claims Corner CME)
In reviewing closed malpractice claims, The Doctors Company has identified delayed diagnosis and treatment of sepsis as a serious problem that can result in significant morbidity and mortality. This article highlights the importance of timely recognition of symptoms that point to a diagnosis of sepsis, and the need for quick initiation of treatment. Factors contributing to the delayed diagnosis and treatment of sepsis are discussed, including clinical judgment errors such as failure to note the importance of significant clinical symptoms, failure to seriously consider sepsis as high on the differential diagnosis, failure to use a sepsis recognition tool as an adjunct to the exam, failure to order appropriate tests to rule out sepsis before assuming another diagnosis, and failure to admit the patient to the hospital for treatment.

The Doctors Company Assists Members Impacted by Hurricane Idalia
Due to disruption to member medical practices from Hurricane Idalia and consistent with direction from the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation, The Doctors Company will adjust policy cancellation and premium installment due dates for its Florida members in counties listed in the Request for Major Disaster Declaration.

The Doctors Company Announces $14.7 Million Dividend
The Doctors Company, the nation’s largest physician-owned medical malpractice insurer, announced today that it has approved a 2024 premium dividend of approximately $14.7 million, bringing the total of declared dividends to date to $470 million.

Video Sep 04, 2018
What to Expect from Litigation: Dr. Gupta's Perspective
Adverse outcomes sometimes occur even when physicians follow the standard of care and do all they can for their patients. This video, the third in a series showcasing actual claims experiences, highlights the stress and worry that accompany a medical malpractice lawsuit. Emergency medicine physician Dr. Malkeet Gupta recounts how being sued for medical malpractice affected him.

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.

Professional Education
Preventing Errors in Preoperative Clearance (Claims Corner)
Primary care providers (PCPs) routinely manage complex elderly patients with multiple comorbidities who require elective surgery. Errors can occur when providers are rushed, there is a lack of effective interoffice communication, and the patient has a low health literacy. Communication and care coordination issues are commonly noted among PCPs and consulting specialists. The Doctors Company has analyzed closed claims where PCPs have been held responsible for failures in surgical mismanagement, specifically preop clearance. This program will highlight the contributing factors identified in malpractice claims involving medical clearance and provide practice strategies for reducing liability risk.

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