Communication
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Oct 09, 2024
Telephone Triage and Advice: Patient Safety Strategies
Communications involving telephone triage and advice present a significant area of liability exposure for practitioners.
Oct 01, 2024
MPL Case: Could Closing the Loop Have Saved This Patient's Life?
Confirming a colleague’s receipt and understanding of serious findings is part of patient safety. Further, closed-loop communication expresses mutual respect, which contributes to professional satisfaction.
Oct 01, 2024
Respond Carefully to Notice of Intent
Richard Cahill, JD, Vice President and Associate General Counsel, The Doctors Company, part of TDC Group, shares suggestions for how to properly respond to patients who communicate their intent to sue.
Sep 01, 2024
Patient Billing Challenges: Frequently Asked Questions
We offer strategies to address common questions about patient billing concerns.
Aug 12, 2024
Your Patient Wants Records Sent Via Unsecure Email. Are You Covered?
Richard Cahill, JD, Vice President and Associate General Counsel, The Doctors Company, part of TDC Group, provides recommendations for how to respond when patients request emailed medical records.
Aug 06, 2024
Informed Consent: Substance and Signature
True informed consent is a process of managing a patient’s expectations through shared decision making. It is not just a signature on a document.
Aug 05, 2024
Terminating Patient Relationships
If it becomes necessary to end a patient relationship, it is critical to end the relationship in a manner that will not lead to claims of discrimination or abandonment, litigation for alleged professional negligence, or complaints to administrative agencies.
Aug 05, 2024
Don’t Let Patient Disputes Escalate; Plan to Protect Yourself
Richard Cahill, JD, Vice President and Associate General Counsel, The Doctors Company, part of TDC Group, contributes recommendations for managing troublesome minor patient disputes.
Aug 01, 2024
Patient Relations: Anticipate and Address Challenging Situations
Questions about patient relations and patient termination are consistently the top reasons that members request assistance.
Jun 27, 2024
Prevent, Communicate, Document: Medical Malpractice Data Help Us Manage Risk
Medical malpractice data offer a rich source of information for gaining insights into high-risk specialties, medical conditions, and procedures that result in claims.
Jun 18, 2024
Documentation Strategies for Open Notes in Healthcare: The Cures Act
Under federal law, patients have a right to access their health records. Our experts offer strategies to help you connect with patients.
Apr 22, 2024
Measles in Your Office? Follow CDC Rules, Take Caution in Telling Patients
Richard Cahill, JD, Vice President and Associate General Counsel, The Doctors Company, part of TDC Group, discusses the importance of patient communication and disclosure surrounding possible measles exposure.
Mar 11, 2024
Informed Refusal
Documenting a patient’s refusal of test or treatment options is key to minimizing risk exposure.
Mar 04, 2024
Proactively Manage Patient Expectations With a Conditions of Treatment Agreement
Protect your practice with a plan to proactively manage challenging patient behaviors.
From
The Doctor’s Advocate
Feb 24, 2024
Analysis of Closed Claims Among All Medical Specialties: Importance of Communication and Other Non-Clinical Contributing Factors
Evaluation of contributing factors associated with medical malpractice claims provides important information to optimize the patient–provider relationship. This review of closed claims from The Doctors Company highlights common factors contributing to lawsuits and strategies to avoid them, with a particular focus on communication.
Jan 30, 2024
Patient Safety Strategies for Surrogate Births
Surrogate pregnancies present unique challenges that require planning and clear communication.
Dec 21, 2023
Suicide Prevention: Primary Care Is a Crucial Setting for Identifying Risk
At any given time, some of your patients are having thoughts of suicide. Effective suicide prevention requires a comprehensive approach.
Dec 05, 2023
Set Expectations for New Patients With a Conditions of Treatment Agreement
Consider developing a plan to preemptively manage challenging patient behaviors when they are first identified.
Nov 30, 2023
Practice Risk Assessment: Do You Know What Your Patients Are Taking?
Richard F. Cahill, Esq., Vice President and Associate General Counsel, The Doctors Company, part of TDC Group, discusses how clinicians can promote positive outcomes and mitigate practice liability risks at a time when patients may be accessing care from myriad sources.
Nov 27, 2023
Limited English Proficiency (LEP) Patients: Top FAQs
Healthcare professionals who accept Medicare and Medicaid patients must comply with federal laws pertaining to language assistance for LEP patients. We answer frequently asked questions.
From
The Doctor’s Advocate
Nov 09, 2023
Recording Residents' Patient Exams Raises Skills―And Privacy Concerns
Richard F. Cahill, Esq., Vice President and Associate General Counsel, The Doctors Company, part of TDC Group, provides strategies for healthcare providers and clinics to avoid legal trouble surrounding patient recording.
Oct 01, 2023
Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: Call or Text 988
The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is now 988, an easy-to-remember number for 24/7 crisis care.
Aug 18, 2023
Limited English Proficiency (LEP) Patients: Frequently Asked Questions
To help you understand LEP requirements, we have compiled a list of frequently asked questions with strategies to ensure compliance.
Jul 28, 2023
Quick Check: Patient Dismissal Process
Our Quick Check tool can help you improve your process for dismissing patients from your practice.
Jul 28, 2023
Quick Check: Informed Consent Process
Using our Quick Check tool can help you improve your informed consent process and documentation.
Jul 28, 2023
Quick Check: Dissatisfied Patient Management
Our Quick Check tool can help you improve how your practice identifies and manages dissatisfied patients.
Jul 11, 2023
Patient Safety Strategies for Hospitalists
Hospitalists face liability risks based on their diverse roles as an inpatient’s attending physician, covering physician, consultant, supervising physician, and/or co-manager. Common problems include confusion regarding the hospitalist’s responsibilities in the patient care continuum and miscommunication during different phases of inpatient care.
May 30, 2023
The Importance of Clinical Health Information at the Point of Radiology Order
Having ready access to patients’ clinical information helps radiologists eliminate assumptions and apply their skills and expertise in rendering accurate interpretive reports.
May 30, 2023
Americans with Disabilities Act: Frequently Asked Questions
Practitioners can face steep penalties for failing to comply with federal mandates that protect individuals with disabilities.
May 01, 2023
Dealing With Online Patient Complaints
Clinicians are understandably concerned about their reputations and the consequences of any negative comments posted about them on social media platforms.
Apr 26, 2023
Curbside Consultations: Patient Safety and Legal Risks
Informal consultations are tempting to busy healthcare practitioners because they are convenient and speedy, but these situations also include inherent liability risks for the consulting practitioner.
Apr 25, 2023
Nonadherent and Noncompliant Patients: Overcoming Barriers
Nonadherent or noncompliant patient conduct (whether intentional or inadvertent) can adversely affect clinical outcomes, undermine the practitioner-patient relationship, and disrupt the operation of practice.
Apr 11, 2023
Disclosure Resources
Practitioners can use these guidelines to help mitigate liability risks when disclosing adverse events and complications.
Apr 01, 2023
Avoid Patient Abandonment Claims with Education, Follow-Up
Sue Boisvert, BSN, MHSA, CPPS, CPHRM, DFASHRM, Senior Patient Safety Risk Manager, Department of Patient Safety and Risk Management, The Doctors Company, part of TDC Group, shares insights on how good policies and strong communication can reduce the risk of patient abandonment claims.
Mar 17, 2023
Obtaining Informed Consent in Teaching Institutions
Given the nature of teaching institutions—where individuals in training participate in patient care to varying degrees—the informed consent process is more complex and can present additional liability risks.
Feb 23, 2023
To Friend or Not To Friend on Social Media
David L. Feldman, MD, MBA, FACS, Chief Medical Officer, The Doctors Company and TDC Group, provides insight on utilizing social media for medical-related discussions.
Feb 10, 2023
Communication Breakdowns Lead to Missed Spinal Epidural Abscess: Case Study
Experts discuss a case involving multiple communication breakdowns that contributed to the patient’s poor outcome and provide strategies to improve processes.
Jan 12, 2023
Tap, Tap: See Better Patient Results, and Provider Scores, with SMS Outreach
Sue Boisvert, BSN, MHSA, DFASHRM, Senior Patient Safety Risk Manager, The Doctors Company, provides commentary on how patient text messaging is increasing in use for certain healthcare settings.
Jan 04, 2023
Effective Patient Communication: Strategies for Challenging Situations
Poor communication often results in poor treatment outcomes and patient dissatisfaction. Our patient safety and risk management guide provides expert strategies and guidance that can help you improve communication with patients and families.
Dec 15, 2022
The Clinician Voice Post-Roe: Speaking Up for Standards of Care
The spillover effects of the Supreme Court’s Dobbs decision, which overturned Roe v. Wade, mean that many clinicians face uncertainty regarding which treatment practices are still legal in their state. Accordingly, they may be unsure how to communicate with patients, or uncertain regarding their role in their institution’s planning conversations.
Dec 12, 2022
Top Seven Tips for Telehealth
Although telehealth demand has declined since the peak of the pandemic, it continues to be an integral part of healthcare delivery. These top recommendations can help minimize risks for practices that provide care via telemedicine.
Dec 01, 2022
Building a Culture of Safety in Healthcare, Part Two: Teamwork
Teamwork and communication are essential components of patient safety. In the second installment of his four-part series on safety culture, Chief Medical Officer David L. Feldman, MD, identifies best practices in communication to facilitate teamwork.
From
The Doctor’s Advocate
Aug 04, 2022
Miscommunication and Hurried Handoffs Threaten Patient Safety
Miscommunication and missed opportunities resulting from hurried handoffs can produce fatal results.
Jul 21, 2022
Effective Obstetrical Team Communication
Effective communication requires a team effort for the exchange of concise and relevant information.
Mar 01, 2022
With Medical Implants, Hope and Plan for the Best, but Talk About the Worst
Even with common implant procedures, variability among human systems creates risks and uncertainties. Dr. David L. Feldman discusses the importance of a true informed consent process using shared decision making.
From
The Doctor’s Advocate
Jan 27, 2022
As Corporate Entities Enter Healthcare, Practices Can Respond via Patient-Centered Care
Corporate entities have always been involved in healthcare, but now mega corporations—from outside the medical space—are entering the field. The involvement of these large non-legacy corporate entities in healthcare is growing and is challenging—and while this trend brings some benefits, it will also impact how all clinicians provide healthcare.
Dec 15, 2021
Telephone Communication for Healthcare Providers: Safety Strategies
When casually or carelessly conducted, telephone communications can lead to diagnostic errors and misunderstandings that can culminate in professional malpractice claims
Aug 04, 2021
Cognitive Assessments in Primary Care: Preparation and Tools May Mitigate Diagnosis Risks
Recent reimbursement changes by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) allow primary care providers to meet their patients’ mental health needs and help build their practices by performing cognitive assessments.
Jun 17, 2021
Deferred, Delayed, Disrupted: Mitigating Risks from Care During COVID-19
The pandemic has disrupted healthcare so thoroughly that in some sense, COVID-19 has affected all of healthcare. The effect on care has been stunning in magnitude. By mid-2020, more than 40 percent of U.S. adults had delayed medical care or avoided it entirely, including care for urgent and emergent complaints.
Nov 04, 2020
Smartphones, Texts, and HIPAA: Strategies to Protect Patient Privacy
The very convenience that makes using smartphone technologies so inviting may also create privacy and security violations.