Healthcare Risk Management
RSSArticles
-
Jury Awards $20 Million in Fatal Surgery Malpractice Case
A jury awarded $20 million to the estate of a 68-year-old patient who died following what was supposed to be a routine abdominal surgery. The three-week trial revealed that the patient experienced internal bleeding during a sigmoid colon resection, but neither the hospital’s surgeons nor the anesthesia group recognized or adequately responded to it. By the time action was taken, the patient had entered hemorrhagic shock and could not be revived.
-
Spouse and Family Access to PHI Often Disputed
As long as HIPAA has been around, one of the most contentious issues has been whether spouses, partners, other family, or friends can receive information about a patient — or whether non-healthcare entities can discuss someone’s health. Healthcare providers often misinterpret HIPAA requirements in this area, either being overly restrictive or releasing protected health information improperly.
-
Know When to Settle and When to Fight
With any medical malpractice case, or other lawsuit, the healthcare organization always comes to a decision point about whether to settle or fight the claim in court. Thinking ahead about how to make that decision can help you make the right choice when the time comes.
-
Staying Compliant Can Be Challenging in 2025
Compliance is always a main concern for healthcare leaders, but some periods can be more challenging than others. Different federal administrations address compliance in different ways, and it is important to understand their particular areas of focus.
-
Drug Diversion Still a Serious Compliance, Patient Safety Issue
Drug diversion remains as big a problem in healthcare organizations as ever, threatening the safety of patients and quality of care provided by impaired clinicians. Addressing the problem will require a comprehensive effort from risk managers and medical leaders.
-
Hospital Wins Dismissal After Expert Nurse Excluded in Neonatal Injury Suit
In a professional negligence case, an appellate court affirmed summary judgment in favor of a healthcare provider after the plaintiffs failed to present admissible expert evidence on both breach of care and causation.
-
Failure to Match Board Certifications Leads to Malpractice Case Dismissal
In a medical malpractice case, an appellate court affirmed the dismissal of a wrongful death claim against a critical care physician because of the plaintiff’s failure to submit a compliant affidavit of merit.
-
Telehealth Requires Scrutiny on Standard of Care
Healthcare organizations continue to face potential liability from telehealth issues and must take steps to ensure patients receive quality care no matter the method of delivery.
-
AI Becoming New Threat to Data Security
The increasing use of artificial intelligence is posing a new type of threat to the security of patient data and financial information.
-
Misuse of Opioids Leading to More Fraud Investigations
Opioid-related fraud litigation is a trend continuing to gain momentum in FCA enforcement.