Failure to Diagnose Congenital Asplenia Results in Tragic Patient Outcome (Claims Corner CME)

Description

Referral process system failures can contribute to delayed diagnosis of serious conditions which can lead to severe consequences for patients. Problems can arise when referral is needed but is not initiated properly or timely, when the specialist does not ensure their recommendations are fully and clearly communicated back to the referring clinician, when the referring clinician does not understand or act on the specialist’s recommendations, or when the referring office fails to track their open referrals to ensure they have received all consultation reports. This program will examine a malpractice case involving all the above referral-related deficiencies, leading to a catastrophic result for the patient and significant liability for the involved clinicians. Risk management strategies will be provided for any practice to improve the referral process and to prevent similar tragedies from occurring.

Description of the Professional Practice Gap (PPG)

Based on closed malpractice claims, The Doctors Company has identified problems with the referral process to be a significant contributor to claims indicating a lack in understanding or ineffective referral tracking and follow-up processes. This program addresses gaps involving the referral process and provides strategies to address those gaps.

Learning Outcome

80 percent of participants will indicate an intent to incorporate at least one change in practice as a result of completing this program.

Learning Objectives

After completing this activity, learners will be able to:

• Review the steps my practice's protocol for initiating and tracking referrals.
• Implement a plan to proactively track open referrals and receipt of reports from consulting specialists.
• Clarify ambiguous or missing information found in consultation reports or other forms of provider-to-provider communication.
• Develop communication strategies for clear communication to patients/families of the reason and importance of a referral to a specialist or testing ordered.

Course Developers

Melissa Nelson, RN, BSN, Senior Patient Safety Analyst, The Doctors Company
Amy Wasdin, RN, MBA, CPHRM, CPHQ, Director, Patient Safety Staff Education, The Doctors Company                                       
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
 

Continuing Education Credit

The Doctors Company is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical educational activities for physicians.

The Doctors Company designates this activity for a maximum of 0.75 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit^TM. Physicians 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.

ANCC - Accreditation and Disclosure Statement

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 0.75 nursing contact hour. 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

PPlease SEE the Federation of State Medical Boards overview of Continuing Medical Education requirements by State. 
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.