Healthcare Risk Management – June 1, 2011
June 1, 2011
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ACO rule provides detail but creates regulatory burden for providers
The much anticipated proposed rule on accountable care organizations (ACOs) has healthcare providers studying their markets and trying to determine whether this brave new world of managed care will benefit them or just pose more risks than they are willing to take. For risk managers in particular, there are serious concerns about how ACO participation might set up the provider for charges of fraud and abuse. -
Proposed rule specifies ACO quality standards
The proposed rule for accountable care organizations (ACOs) from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) specifies how teams of doctors, hospitals, and other healthcare providers and suppliers will work together to coordinate and improve care for patients. -
OB program aims to cut claims, improve safety
The nation's largest Catholic and nonprofit healthcare system is launching a demonstration project to determine best methods to reduce or eliminate birth complications and at the same seeking to avoid obstetrics claims through a renewed emphasis on transparency and full disclosure. -
Team investigates OB adverse events
The medical liability response model being implemented in the OB units of five Ascension Health hospitals model emphasizes the need for clinicians to report all events that could result in a lawsuit. -
Key to OB safety effort: high-reliability concepts
Ascension Health, the nonprofit health system based in St. Louis, MO, already had made progress in reducing injuries to newborns and the associated management of risk exposures before launching the Excellence in Obstetrics program, says Christine K. McKoy, JD, the system's vice president of risk management. -
Lawsuit shows new risk from competitors
A lawsuit involving two rival health systems, with one alleging that the other overcharged Medicare by at least $280 million, might portend more such situations in which a competitor throws a healthcare provider to the auditor wolves. -
Corporate suits make RMs more valuable
The potential for more corporate lawsuits such as the one involving Tenet Healthcare Corp. and Community Health Systems should highlight the value of the risk manager (RM) in any healthcare organization, says Sheryl R. Skolnick, PhD, senior vice president of CRT Capital Group in Stamford, CT, who has studied Tenet for Wall Street. -
Professional group targets patient safety
Patient safety professionals are moving toward more prominence and stature in the health care community with the recent launch of the first professional organization devoted to their work. -
Survey: Social media seeing more restrictions
More employers are restricting the use of social media and disciplining workers for violations, according to the results of a recent survey. -
Nurse kills herself after medical error
The fatal overdose of an infant last year at Seattle Children's hospital has resulted in another death: The nurse at fault committed suicide. -
Legal Review & Commentary: Incorrect calculation of medication dose leads to baby's permanent disability, $19.2M verdict
A woman gave birth to a baby at 24 weeks gestation. Physicians at the hospital ordered that the baby receive parenteral nutrition (PN). The amount to be administered to the child was documented in the child's birth as being calculated according to "standard protocol." For 11 days, the hospital administered the PN solution intravenously without incident.