Effective Patient Communication for Challenging Situations
Poor communication often results in poor treatment outcomes and patient dissatisfaction. Our patient safety and risk management guide provides expert strategies and guidance that can help you improve communication with patients and families.
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Apply for Coverage
Download and submit this simple form to apply for medical liability protection from The Doctors Company.
Mar 04, 2024
Spotlight on Foundation Grants: OR Crisis Checklists
The Doctors Company Foundation highlights a project by Ariadne Labs to update and expand its successful operating room checklist compendium.
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The Doctor’s Advocate
Professional Education
Reducing Vaccine Liability Exposure for Pediatric Healthcare Professionals
This continuing education program provides the pediatric healthcare professional with best practices for identifying, reducing, and managing vaccine-related liability exposures. By drawing on our professional liability closed claims data, we have identified common errors that reflect the most common issues associated with vaccine care and treatment in the pediatric population. In addition, this program will identify best practices for effective communication and management of vaccine hesitant patients/families and caretakers.
Resources for Practice Managers
Get all our expert resources on important practice management topics, including OSHA standards, compliance, training, checklists, and tools.
Mar 12, 2025
Choosing a Professional Liability Insurer: APC Guide
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.
May 02, 2025, Inside Medical Liability Online
MPL Case: Could This Medication Error Occur in Your Practice?
Medication errors and patient falls present marked risks for oncology patients and practices. These types of adverse events, when they occur, are especially likely to result in malpractice claims with paid indemnities. Experts from The Doctors Company discuss how attention to systems factors such as practice policies and protocols, supported by staff training in adherence and implementation, can help protect patients from harm and practices from liability.
Thomas Murphy
Tom Murphy is an agent for medical malpractice insurance with Danna-Gracey. He is based in Delray Beach, Florida.
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.
