Consent Process Often Executed Poorly, Creating Risks and Costs

Obtaining patient consent is such a fundamental part of healthcare risk management that it would be easy to assume it is done consistently and properly in most cases, but that is a dangerous assumption.

HFAP Finds Incomplete Consent Forms in Surveys

Consent forms missing one or more elements are a common problem found by surveyors with the Healthcare Facilities Accreditation Program.

Study Finds 66% of Surgeries Lack Consent

Researchers at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore found that consent forms were missing for 66% of surgical patients, causing one-tenth of procedures to be delayed.

Hospital Faces Class-action Lawsuit After Hepatitis C Outbreak

A hospital in Washington state is responding to litigation involving exposure to hepatitis C from a nurse. The hospital notified 2,600 patients of a possible exposure.

Future of Risk Management Demands Broad Approach

Risk managers will fare best in the future by maintaining skills in a broad range of topics. New risks will emerge as the healthcare industry evolves.

‘Dry Run’ for Radiology Improves Patient Safety

Conducting a simulated radiography procedure with a patient helps reduce errors and relieves anxiety. The simulation also can encourage staff to report errors and process problems.

CMS May Address Regulatory Burdens of Stark

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services said it wants to make the physician self-referral law, the Stark Law, less of a burden for healthcare organizations.

Staff Workarounds Pose Medication Error Risk

Patient safety is compromised when healthcare workers use workarounds to speed things up when they are busy, or to overcome roadblocks that make it difficult or impossible for them to follow proper procedures in the medication process.