Hidden Liability Risks Identified by Medical Office Reviews: Risky Practices for Advanced Practice Clinicians

Description

Office practice assessments by TDC Group's patient safety risk managers uncover hidden liability risks, often exposing areas where patients can “fall through the cracks” and leave the practice vulnerable to a malpractice claim. Our Practice Risk INSIGHT, an assessment tool customized by specialty, zeros in on problematic areas. The assessments have been completed across a range of practice environments around the country—from small offices to practices that are part of large integrated delivery systems. In this course, we analyze the results of the Practice Risk INSIGHT assessments, highlight problem-prone areas, and offer strategies to minimize liability for advanced practice clinicians (APCs).

Description of the Professional Practice Gap (PPG) 
The analysis of malpractice claims identifies the factors in office practices that contribute to malpractice claims. Many advanced practice clinicians (APCs) fail to recognize or take actions to address these factors in their practice. By raising awareness of the areas for concern and providing strategies to prevent or reduce each contributing factor, APCs and their staff can reduce the risk of a malpractice claims and improve patient safety.

Learning Outcome

•  The learner will be aware of vulnerabilities in their practice that put them at risk for claims of malpractice and strategies they can put in place to address them as evidenced by achieving a score of 80 percent or better on questions regarding this topic.

Learning Objectives
 After completing this activity, learners will be able to:

• Assess my practice's tracking systems, processes, and documentation for vulnerabilities that increase the risk of misdiagnosis and when patients "fall through the cracks."
• Educate others in my practice about how system and human failure impact patient safety and increase liability.
• Determine what resources and tools can contribute to improvements in patient safety.

Course Developers

Kimberly Hathaway, MSN, RN, CPHRM, CPHQ, Director Patient Safety Healthcare Quality & Risk Management, The Doctors Company
Johanna Lackner, MPH, MSW, Senior Director, Continuing Professional Development, Department of Patient Safety and Risk Management, The Doctors Company

Accreditation and Disclosure Statements

The Doctors Company is accredited as a provider of nursing continuing professional development by the American Nurses Credentialing Center's Commission on Accreditation.

The Doctors Company designates this activity for a maximum of 1.5 nursing contact hours. Learners should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
 
No individual in a position to control or influence the content of this activity has reported relevant financial relationships with commercial interests. No commercial support was provided for this activity. 

Disclaimer Statement

This program is being offered for informational and educational purposes only from a Patient Safety Risk Management perspective and does not constitute legal advice. Laws vary from state to state, actual clinical situations often involve subtle differences and nuances from program scenarios or recommendations, and the recommendations provided in this activity may not apply to all practice situations. In complex circumstances, which present significant potential for an adverse event or litigation, TDC and the faculty recommend you consult directly with your corporate or personal counsel for professional legal guidance. 

Complies with State Requirements

Please SEE the Registered Nurse and Licensed Practical Nurse CE Requirements by State.

Technical Requirements

The activity is best experienced using the most current browser: Firefox, Chrome, Safari, or Microsoft Edge. Internet Explorer is not supported on this platform. All activities featuring audio must have a speaker. To view graphic images and references that appear in separate "pop-up" windows, JavaScript and session cookies must be enabled on your computer. Adobe Acrobat Reader may be required for certain activities.

Contact Us

If you have questions, contact educationsupport@thedoctors.com or call 800.421.2368.

Resource

Visit our Resource document for this program.