Risk & Quality Management
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Avoid Liability from Patient Elopement
Patient elopement is a major threat to patient safety, particularly with the most vulnerable patients. Any resulting injury or death could bring liability to the healthcare facility. The risk requires careful adherence to proper policies and procedures, along with the use of some physical precautions that can reduce the risk of elopement.
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Three Common Missteps to Avoid with Med Mal Cases
Medical malpractice allegations can set off a cascade of obligations and possible pitfalls, and it can seem like there is too much to handle all at once. Paying attention to three potential missteps can ease some of the burden.
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EMTALA Still Poses Challenges After All These Years
EMTALA has encouraged the safe care of emergent patients since 1986, yet it still poses significant compliance challenges and hospitals are cited for violations. Understanding the potential pitfalls and best practices can help healthcare organizations avoid serious consequences.
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Computer-Interpreted ECGs Sometimes Miss Acute Coronary Occlusion
Emergency physicians can shield against risk by viewing ECGs of chest pain patients immediately to identify subtle signs of acute coronary occlusion.
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Appellate Court Affirms Jury’s Verdict in Favor of Hospital and Physician
Medical negligence claims hinge on three primary components: defining the standard of care, the failure to meet this standard, and directly linking any negligence to the sustained injury. In this case, the chief point of contention was whether the physician breached the standard of care when he removed a limited amount of prostatic tissue.
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Appellate Court Affirms $42 Million Award for Medical Negligence Despite Evidentiary Errors
For medical professionals and the broader healthcare community, this case highlights several interesting issues.
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Difficult EHRs Less Likely to Catch Medical Errors
Electronic health records that are difficult to use are less likely to catch medical errors, according to a new report.
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President’s Group on Patient Safety Publishes Recommendations
The President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology recently released its findings and recommendations on patient safety in a report that outlines how “patient safety is an urgent national public health issue.”
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How to Identify and Defend Against Malicious Lawsuits
Every lawsuit against a healthcare provider is costly and time-consuming, even if the defendant prevails in the end. But it is especially frustrating when it seems there was never any legitimacy to the action. Determining when a plaintiff’s actions constitute a malicious lawsuit can be difficult — and the recourse for the defendant may be limited.
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Be Prepared to Secure All Types of Evidence After Adverse Events
An adverse event that could lead to litigation or investigations should prompt risk managers to implement a prepared process for securing the related evidence, which can take multiple forms. Properly obtaining and protecting the documents, devices, witness reports, digital data, and other evidence may determine the outcome of future litigation.