Managing Patient Refund Requests
Managing a patient’s request for a refund requires caution and a measured response. Refund requests are not only one of the most common patient concerns, but they are also one of the most complex because payer plans, state laws, and professional licensing boards may involve different rules and guidelines.
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Effective Patient-Assisted Telehealth Assessments
Physicians who practice telemedicine must consider the components needed to complete an effective remote assessment and plan ahead based on their specialty area and the patient’s presenting complaint.
Sep 05, 2025
Strong Working Relationships With Patients Protect Healthcare Practitioners
It’s a mistake to value technical expertise at the expense of rapport with the patient. Patient-centered communication weaves a safety net under clinicians if events take an unexpected turn.
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The Doctor’s Advocate
Patient Safety in Dentistry: Communication
Effective communication improves teamwork and creates a safer environment for patients. It can also enhance patient engagement and satisfaction and reduce the risk of professional liability claims, even if an adverse event occurs.
Nov 12, 2020
Cardiology Closed Claims Study
This review of 210 cardiology malpractice claims identifies the most common patient allegations and the specific factors contributing to patient injury.
Patient Safety Strategies for Dermatology
Take steps to reduce risks in dermatology by reviewing your practices and systems and implementing these strategies.
Surge in Outlier Malpractice Awards
Severity—the average cost of a medical malpractice claim—continues its relentless increase. Though severity has been rising since at least the 1970s, in recent years we have seen a sharp increase in outlier verdicts, which exceed common policy limits and often set records for their venues. Before the pandemic, nearly all states had seen these extraordinarily large awards, but whether the pace of these awards will be affected by the pandemic is unknown. Some U.S. states have adopted limited liability protections for physicians during COVID-19, but those protections may be tested in the courts.
August 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.
Job Shadowing in Clinical Settings
Create guidelines to prevent practice risks, eliminate patient harm, and protect patient privacy.
July 10, 2025, Inside Medical Liability
MPL Case: Inadequate Informed Consent and Documentation Creates Challenges in Dentistry
Dental malpractice claims are often not merely the result of individual oversights but reflect broader systemic issues, such as lapses in infection control, documentation, and patient assessment protocols. Establishing and maintaining strong practice processes for patient communication, informed consent, and documentation can help improve patient safety and protect the practice from liability.
