Physician Risk Management – June 1, 2013
June 1, 2013
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Address EMR practices before suit occurs — It’s an ‘evolving area of risk exposure’
Physicians are becoming increasingly aware that in many cases, electronic medical record (EMR) documentation creates legal risks that didnt exist with paper charting. -
If you make these changes, you can obtain lower premiums
Its possible to obtain lower premiums for professional liability coverage, but to put yourself in that position, you have to outperform the average in your state or community, advises Jonathan Katz, president of Oros Risk Solutions, an Orlando, FL-based insurance and consulting agency specializing in selling medical professional liability insurance. -
Are you guilty of negligent prescribing?
Prescription drugs are killing patients at an alarming rate. Overdoses from prescription painkillers have risen for 10 straight years. Over 40% of deaths involving prescription drugs were due to opioids. -
Prescribing pain medication? Be sure this documentation is in chart
When a physician is sued for negligent prescribing, a particular piece of documentation invariably becomes critically important, says Catherine J. Flynn, Esq., an attorney at Weber Gallagher in Warren, NJ. -
Caring ‘informally’ for colleagues, others?
A recent medical malpractice case involved a physician treating his significant other for a chronic pain problem with narcotics and muscle relaxants that resulted in an overdose and death. -
Excessive workload coming up at trial — Plaintiff attorneys are calling it ‘factory medicine’
Forty percent of attending physicians reported that once a month they have an unsafe workload that could lead to patient harm, according to a recent survey.1 -
Legal risks of social media are many — Look to guidelines
Physicians should take care in online communications including the electronic posting of information and the exchange of information via computers and phones, says Lois Snyder Sulmasy, JD, director of the American College of Physicians Center for Ethics and Professionalism in Philadelphia. -
Chart can deter lawyer from pursuing claim — Attorney will have ‘nowhere to assert a claim’
Does a patients chart include all tests and treatments, a full medical and social history and physical exam, differential diagnoses, critical thinking thought process steps, and medical justification for preliminary and final conclusions regarding treatment and diagnosis? -
New approach to malpractice reform
A Patients Compensation System, if implemented, would eliminate jackpot justice in Georgia and Florida, according to Wayne Oliver, executive director of Patients for Fair Compensation and former vice president at the Center for Health Transformation. -
Physician Legal Review & Commentary: Family of boy, 12, who suffered fatal brain damage awarded $3.5 million after 2-hour transfer delay
In 2002, a 12-year-old boy was taken to the emergency department by his mother after she found him screaming in pain and holding his head. The child was at the emergency department for more than one hour before the doctor examined him, at which time it was discovered the boys previously implanted brain shunt was malfunctioning. -
Physician Legal Review & Commentary: Woman awarded $5 million when failure to test results in bilateral leg amputations
In 2008, a female patient presented to the emergency department of a local hospital with severe pain in her feet and legs. After examination by a physicians assistant (PA) and written approval from the emergency department physician, she was diagnosed with cellulitis and discharged home.