Our case for this month is all about "agents,” so if you hire independent contractors, you’ll want to read on to learn more about how to manage your liability exposures.

An abnormal test result typically sets in motion a number of follow-up actions by a patient’s treaters. While many of those actions will depend on the particular situation, one of them should be a constant: Telling the patient.

This month, we feature an article from the archives written by CAP’s former General Counsel Gordon Ownby.

Knowing a Patient Well Can Interfere with Good Judgment

When a specialist comes back with less than clear-cut test results, it is not unusual to see a report that contains politely worded recommendations for further workup. Don’t let the deferential language lull you into complacency.

Faxed reports, portals, electronically transmitted reports — physicians have had to adapt to a number of different formats in which they receive their reports. The various formats used in modern reports, plus the longstanding scourge of confirmation bias, make paying close attention to all such communications vital to patient safety.