Consumers today pay a great deal of attention to what friends and family say on social media. And as noted in last week’s column, monitoring social media can have a positive impact on a medical practice’s bottom line. But are physicians adhering to social media guidelines? The answer is more startling than a simple “no.”

Smaller hospitals and clinics must avoid the common mistake of thinking they won't fall victim to cyberattacks, warns risk management expert Tom Andre, vice president of information services at the Cooperative of American Physicians, which offers malpractice and cyber insurance.

Introducing an electronic medical records system into the practice helps the physicians and staff provide more efficient healthcare by making medical records more accessible to all health care team members.

CAP Risk Management and Patient Safety identifies 10 areas of risk exposure for HER's and provides some brief recommendations in each area.

Ultimately, as the owner of the practice, the physician is in charge. But if doctors have practice managers who are sharp and stay on top of developing changes within the health care landscape, the managers know what it will take to get the practice to meaningful use.