Disclosing errors can reduce exposure
Open your lines of communication
While mistakes are an inevitable part of practicing medicine, attitudes toward the mistakes can mean the difference between an enhanced patient relationship and a nasty lawsuit. Patients want to know about even minor errors, a recent survey shows. Knowing how to deal with such incidents should affect your internal risk management and patient advocacy programs.
Communicating honestly and effectively with patients enhances patient relationships and can reduce litigation, according to Amy B. Witman, MD, of Loma Linda (CA) University Medical Center. Witman surveyed patients with the purpose of examining their attitudes toward errors (Arch Int Med 1996; 156:2565-2569). The survey instrument asked 149 subjects for their reaction to a health care provider disclosing or not disclosing minor, moderate, and severe mistakes.
They found that 98% of patients wanted some acknowledgement of even minor errors. For moderate to significant errors, patients said they’d be less likely to take action against the physician or even to request a referral to another physician if communication is straightforward than if information is kept from them.
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