Risk Management News and Education

In today’s environment, consumers want “on-demand” care. How can physicians shift from a short-term intervention to a long-term strategy? Can telehealth enhance the care you provide? How can you keep what you have but expand the services you provide?

You’ve heard of cases where scissors, retractors, forceps, sponges, and other items get left behind in patients during surgery. Considering the risk of “fuzzy math," we’ve picked up on a few things we thought would be good for all surgeons to know.

Do you have an “independent contractor” physician or practitioner seeing patients in your medical practice? Do you allow an outside service to perform ultrasounds, bone density scans, lab work, aesthetic treatments, or other services in your medical practice? If the answer is yes, you may be liable for that person’s actions. 

Medical practices are increasingly coming under attack by cyber criminals. This makes it all the more important that physicians take steps to improve their security efforts.

When calling CAP’s Hotline, a question some physicians ask is, “Will I have additional liability if I accept a position as a medical director?” The short answer is "yes." Here are several examples.

A goal of CAP’s Risk Management and Patient Safety team is to provide education to our members that will improve medical care for all patients. This article will help you, our members, understand the LGBTQIA+ patient, offers risk strategies for better care, and provide additional resources to learn more.  

Most physicians would likely not be surprised that many American homes have an accumulation of unused, unwanted, or expired medications. But did you ever consider the potential safety hazards these surplus medications present?

If an appropriate exam is not performed during a telemedicine visit, claims may arise from misdiagnosis and treatment errors. To ensure your patients have an optimal virtual experience and best possible medical outcomes from their next telemedicine appointment with you, CAP recommends the following tips.

It is important for physicians to be aware of regulatory requirements and be familiar with other rules pertaining to LTC staff qualifications, certifications, licensing, knowledge, and expertise. The LTC practitioner must further understand the level of services available at each facility they practice in.

A common allegation in malpractice lawsuits is the failure to obtain the patient’s consent for treatment. It goes beyond just getting the patient to sign a piece of paper.