The Role of the Medical Assistant in Your Office Practice
A medical assistant (MA) can be a valuable addition to an office practice, but MAs should not perform tasks outside their scope of practice.
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Professional Education
Shoulder Dystocia Clinician-Patient Disclosure
This enduring activity is designed to assist physicians and advanced practice clinicians (APCs) in enhancing their communication skills when disclosing a shoulder dystocia injury to patients and family members. This type of injury to the infant may, unfortunately, occur despite the best of care; however, effective physician-patient communication is an integral part of clinical practice and has been shown to positively influence outcomes by increasing patient understanding and trust.
November 13, 2025, Inside Medical Liability
MPL Case: Could Timely Diagnosis Have Preserved This Patient’s Vision?
Despite thorough subject-matter knowledge, physicians can miss the diagnosis of a familiar condition because of issues with clinical judgment. Clinical judgment may be influenced by distraction, interruption, or team communication issues. A new study of malpractice allegations against ophthalmologists suggests that when practices build teamwork skills, they strengthen patient safety and mitigate practice risks.
February 19, 2025, JAMA Network Open
Ambient Listening—Legal and Ethical Issues
Ambient listening, which involves using AI to record and analyze conversations between clinicians and patients, is one area of early AI adoption among healthcare professionals. I. Glenn Cohen, JD; Julie Ritzman, MBA, CPHRM; and Richard F. Cahill, JD, provide a comprehensive analysis of the legal and ethical considerations associated with the use of ambient listening technologies in healthcare settings.
Healthcare Cybersecurity Resources
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.
Analysis of Cerebrovascular Accidents and Malpractice Claims
Because cerebrovascular accidents can happen at any time and in any location, it is imperative that all members of the healthcare team are able to recognize and respond to symptoms in a timely manner.
April 03, 2025, Cardiology Magazine
Critical Insights: Lessons From Delayed Diagnosis, Treatment in the ED
John P. Erwin III, MD, MBA, MACC, Chair, Department of Internal Medicine, Prisma Health Upstate; Clinical Professor, School of Medicine Greenville, University of South Carolina; and Debra A. Davidson, MJ, CPHRM, CPPS, Senior Patient Safety Risk Manager, The Doctors Company, part of TDC Group, review how care and treatment delays contribute to poor patient outcomes and medical malpractice litigation.
Nuclear Verdicts Increase Healthcare Costs
Social inflation increases the price of healthcare. It ratchets up the costs of doing business for healthcare professionals and facilities, and fear of litigation inspires defensive medicine. Fortunately, through tort reform, states may be able to contain social inflation’s effects on healthcare costs.
Close the Loop on Test Results
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.
Randall Nukk
Randall Nukk is physician niche president for Gallagher Healthcare in Itasca, Illinois. His areas of expertise include medical malpractice insurance and coverage and exposure analysis.
