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Nov 27, 2023
Limited English Proficiency (LEP) Patients: Top FAQs
Debra Kane Hill, MBA, RN, Senior Patient Safety Risk Manager, and Richard F. Cahill, JD, Vice President and Associate General Counsel, The Doctors Company
Healthcare professionals who accept Medicare and Medicaid patients must comply with federal laws pertaining to language assistance for LEP patients. We answer frequently asked questions.
From The Doctor’s Advocate

Mar 12, 2025
Choosing a Professional Liability Insurance Carrier: A Guide for Advanced Practice Clinicians
Choosing the right malpractice insurer is one of the most important professional decisions you’ll make. Despite facing many of the same liability and malpractice risks as physicians, advanced practice clinicians (APCs)—including nurse practitioners (NPs), physician assistants (PAs), certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs), certified nurse midwives (CNMs), and certified midwives (CMs)—are often not as well insured.

Professional Education
Loss Lessons: Lithium Toxicity, Fine Tuning Medications Used in Behavioral Health
Lithium therapy can be used for bipolar affective disorders and in depressive disorders where other antidepressants have been unsuccessful. It is considered a “high-risk” drug due to its narrow therapeutic range and potential for overdose toxicity. This case illustrates the pitfalls that occurred resulting in litigation. It is followed by a discussion of the problems that could have been avoided by following safety guidelines for prescribing lithium.

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.

2020 Community Investment Annual Report
It was clear that 2020 was an extraordinary year, as our members and all healthcare providers dealt with conditions more fitting to a battlefield than healthcare. But as our members met and exceeded the challenges, we were also proud to see our employees and nonprofit partners rise to meet the needs of our communities.

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