Healthcare Risk Management – November 1, 2023

Be Prepared to Secure All Types of Evidence After Adverse Events

An adverse event that could lead to litigation or investigations should prompt risk managers to implement a prepared process for securing the related evidence, which can take multiple forms. Properly obtaining and protecting the documents, devices, witness reports, digital data, and other evidence may determine the outcome of future litigation.

How to Identify and Defend Against Malicious Lawsuits

Every lawsuit against a healthcare provider is costly and time-consuming, even if the defendant prevails in the end. But it is especially frustrating when it seems there was never any legitimacy to the action. Determining when a plaintiff’s actions constitute a malicious lawsuit can be difficult — and the recourse for the defendant may be limited.

President’s Group on Patient Safety Publishes Recommendations

The President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology recently released its findings and recommendations on patient safety in a report that outlines how “patient safety is an urgent national public health issue.”

Difficult EHRs Less Likely to Catch Medical Errors

Electronic health records that are difficult to use are less likely to catch medical errors, according to a new report.

Appellate Court Affirms $42 Million Award for Medical Negligence Despite Evidentiary Errors

For medical professionals and the broader healthcare community, this case highlights several interesting issues.

Appellate Court Affirms Jury’s Verdict in Favor of Hospital and Physician

Medical negligence claims hinge on three primary components: defining the standard of care, the failure to meet this standard, and directly linking any negligence to the sustained injury. In this case, the chief point of contention was whether the physician breached the standard of care when he removed a limited amount of prostatic tissue.