Reflections on the Pandemic’s Three-Year Anniversary
As we pass the three-year anniversary of the COVID-19 pandemic and the end of the federal Public Health Emergency (PHE) on May 11, it is a time for reflection, looking back on the exceptional challenges faced, the incredible heroism we witnessed from all healthcare professionals, and the lessons learned.
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Sep 01, 2023
Inflationary Pressure on Medical Liability Reforms Increasing
Across the nation, inflation is affecting medical liability reforms and making it difficult to defend hard-won protections.
From
The Doctor’s Advocate
Professional Education
Loss Lessons: Practicing Out of Bounds
Unlicensed staff are vital to efficient patient flow in medical practice. Healthcare organizations have many tasks that are safely and effectively carried out by skilled unlicensed support staff every day. To reach such efficiencies with safety and reliability, careful attention must be given to scope of practice and state and local statutes regarding delegation and supervision. Policies and protocols that outline the scope of practice for unlicensed staff to follow independently, and when they must consult with licensed staff, help even the most talented of your staff understand their boundaries. This case illustrates how informal verbal guidelines can blur the lines and cause well-meaning staff to cross the boundary lines of their scope leading to misdiagnosis and death.
Pediatric Claims: April Malpractice Risk Review—Insights to Reduce Patient Harm and Malpractice Exposure
The Doctors Company, the nation’s largest physician-owned medical malpractice insurer, today released “Pediatric Claims: April Malpractice Risk Review,” the newest edition in a monthly series of specialty-focused analyses designed to support patient safety and clinical risk management.
Video Feb 10, 2026
Midwives: Consent, Documentation, and Practice Scope
In today’s high-pressure clinical environments, team turnover is common. Without clear communication about roles and responsibilities, misunderstandings can quickly escalate into formal complaints instead of productive dialogue.
Patient Safety in Dentistry: Documentation
The primary purpose of documentation is to create an orderly chronological record of the clinical decision-making process, treatment provided, and patient responses. Records that are incomplete or inaccurate may lead to inappropriate treatment and patient harm.
How CRNAs Can Mitigate Negligence Risks
Many certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs) worry about what will happen if they are reported to the National Practitioner Data Bank (NPDB), but because the reporting process and its implications are often misunderstood, some of these worries may be unfounded. Understanding more about the NPDB can allay CRNAs’ potential concerns about their professional prospects.
Mar 04, 2024
Industry and Company News First Quarter 2024
Announcements in the first quarter of 2024 include a new corporate sponsorship, predictions about healthcare in the next decade, and news about an exclusive agreement between NJ PURE and TDC RRG.
From
The Doctor’s Advocate
Chairman's Library
Richard E. Anderson, MD, FACP, Chairman and CEO of The Doctors Company, is the author of a number of peer-reviewed publications on medical malpractice and the impact of defensive medicine.
Dec 13, 2022
Risks of Delayed Care Post-Roe
In the wake of the Dobbs decision, which overturned Roe v. Wade, rapid changes in hospital protocols have at times amplified confusion over what is legally allowed when responding to ectopic pregnancy, miscarriage, or other obstetric complications. Clinicians in some states may feel pinned between their obligation to care for the patient and their obligation not to break the law.
