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Mar 07, 2023
In Memoriam: Donald J. Palmisano, MD, JD, FACS
It is with great sadness that we report the passing of long-time Board Member Donald J. Palmisano, MD, JD, FACS.
From The Doctor’s Advocate

Practice Safety Culture Insight

Charles E. Black, Jr.
Charlie Black is executive vice president and sales manager of Willis of Ohio's professional liability department in Columbus, Ohio. Charlie has worked in insurance since 1979.

Mar 20, 2023
Sexual Harassment Allegations in Healthcare: Rising Risks
Richard Cahill, JD, Vice President and Associate General Counsel, The Doctors Company
Healthcare practitioners are not immune from the growing number of reported incidents of alleged sexual harassment in the workplace. This article provides risk mitigation strategies.

Professional Education
Delayed Diagnosis of Stroke: Case Review for Advanced Practice Clinicians
In reviewing closed malpractice claims, The Doctors Company identified diagnostic failure as a reoccurring problem and one of the top three leading allegations that result in malpractice claims. This failure often leads to a delay in treatment and causes significant harm to patients. The following highlights the importance of recognizing the signs and symptoms of a stroke. Factors contributing to delay diagnosis and treatment included failure to recognize the window (“last known well time”) for tissue plasminogen activator-clot buster (tPA) failure to order a stat MRI and neurology consult, failed communication among providers regarding changes of recurring symptoms of ischemic stroke, failure to appreciate new signs and symptoms of a stroke, and poor or inconsistent documentation. The National Academy of Medicine (NAM) has identified the top three causes of serious harm from diagnostic failure. Number one is ischemic stroke.

Nelson Guzman
Nelson Guzman is president and founder of Trinity Risk Advisors in Alpharetta, Georgia. He has worked in insurance for 20 years.

Oct 13, 2020
Otolaryngology: Reduce Risk When Performing Diagnostic Imaging Services
Sue Boisvert, BSN, MHSA, Patient Safety Risk Manager II
Adding point-of-care imaging to an otolaryngology practice is convenient for patients and a source of revenue for the practice. It also comes with responsibility and potential risk.

Professional Education
Alzheimer's 6: Pharmacological Management of Behavioral and Psychological Symptoms of Dementia
Join our self-paced educational program to learn to distinguish dementia symptoms from other psychiatric issues and treat them with pharmacological interventions. Improve recognition of behavioral problems in Alzheimer's and dementia patients, use the DICE psycho-behavioral model for medication decisions, and create treatment plans with behavioral and pharmacological strategies to refine your best practices for individuals with dementia. [1.50 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™, 1.50 Contact Hours (ANCC)]

Healthcare Cybersecurity: Risks and Solutions
It’s not a matter of if a data breach will occur in your medical practice—it’s a matter of when. Make sure your practice is prepared with these resources, including how to comply with HIPAA rules in the event of a breach, how to thwart ransomware attacks, how to combat password theft, and more.

Aug 26, 2022
Hip and Knee Replacements: An Examination of Malpractice Claims Against Orthopedic Surgeons From the Ambulatory and Inpatient Settings
Jacqueline Ross, RN, PhD, Coding Director, Department of Patient Safety and Risk Management
The literature related to malpractice claims comparing inpatient and ambulatory knee and hip replacements has so far been limited. Therefore, the purpose of this novel study was to explore potential differences between the two settings in malpractice claims for surgery.