Healthcare Risk Management 2003-08-01

Unsafe for every need: Too many details for patient safety goals can be trouble

As hospitals continue their efforts to comply with the National Patient Safety Goals issued by the Oakbrook Terrace, IL-based Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations, some risk management and quality assurance experts are issuing a strong warning: Dont go overboard with your efforts to write new policies and procedures because they can create unnecessary liability risks.

National Quality Forum has 30 ways to increase safety

Representatives of leading health care and consumer groups have endorsed 30 patient safety practices they say should be universally used in health care settings to reduce the risk of harm resulting from processes, systems, or environments of care.

Universal consent forms raise questions of ethics

Using a universal consent form for multiple procedures anticipated for a patient can nearly double the consent rate for most of the invasive procedures performed in an intensive care unit, according to researchers in Chicago. But observers say the tactic may violate the spirit of the informed consent process.

Insurance policy to cover violations of HIPAA rules

A San Francisco insurer is offering health care providers what it says may be a first in underwriting a professional liability insurance policy specifically geared toward electronic-based and web-enabled transactions for health care operations.

Reader question: Tired of back injuries? Let technology do heavy lifting

Increasingly, hospitals and other health care facilities are finding that they cant seriously reduce back injuries without using machines to do the lifting.

Reader question: Falling Leaf programs tell who is most at risk to fall

Falling Leaf is a program that identifies the patients at highest risk for falls and then aggressively works to monitor them and find the root cause of their falls. The program can dramatically reduce the number and severity of falls in any health care setting.

NJ malpractice premiums up 71% in just one year

With 2003 insurance quotes now in, New Jersey hospitals report an average annual medical malpractice insurance premium of nearly $1.9 million, a 71% increase over the average 2002 premium of $1.1 million.

Legal Review & Commentary: A lack of consent and facial burns lead to a $376,000 verdict in Texas

After an initial round of laser surgery on her face, the patient consented to a second procedure, which was limited to an eyelid tuck and minor laser surgery to her chin. Despite the limitation, the ophthalmologist performed a full-face laser procedure, inadvertently resulting in second- and third-degree burns.

Legal Review & Commentary: Injury coverup leads to a $1.5 million settlement

An elderly nursing home resident with a history of dementia fell and hit his head. Evidence of the incident was concealed by the nursing staff.

Healthcare Risk Management – August 1, 2003

August 1, 2003