Preventing Errors in Preoperative Clearance (Claims Corner)

Description

Primary care providers (PCPs) routinely manage complex elderly patients with multiple comorbidities who require elective surgery. Errors can occur when providers are rushed, there is a lack of effective interoffice communication, and the patient has a low health literacy. Communication and care coordination issues are commonly noted among PCPs and consulting specialists. The Doctors Company has analyzed closed claims where PCPs have been held responsible for failures in surgical mismanagement, specifically preop clearance. This program will highlight the contributing factors identified in malpractice claims involving medical clearance and provide practice strategies for reducing liability risk.

Description of the Professional Practice Gap (PPG)

TDC closed claims analysis indicates that primary care providers have been held responsible for failures in surgical mismanagement, specifically preop clearance. Common contributing factors in these cases include ineffective patient-staff communication, lack of direct communication between specialist & provider, poor interoffice communication, failure to adhere to practice policies & rushed decision-making. PCPs need to understand the risks associated with granting medical clearance, especially to high-risk patients, to minimize the potential for adverse patient outcomes.

Learning Outcome Statement

80% of learners will indicate an intention to identify communication deficits in the practice and incorporate an effective communication tool to reduce the risk of patient harm.

Learning Objectives

After completing this activity, learners will be able to:

• Identify the population of patients in my practice at high risk for complications during the surgical process of care.
• Identify patient communication deficits in my practice.
• Develop a practice policy for pre-op medical clearance including medical optimization, surgical risk assessment, appropriate patient education and direct communication with consulting providers.
• Incorporate the use of effective communication tools to reduce the risk of patient harm for patients at high risk for complications during surgical process of care.

Course Developers

Traci King, RN, LNCC, Patient Safety Analyst, Department of Patient Safety and Risk Management, 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 0.5 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™. 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 0.5 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

The information and guidelines contained in this activity are generalized and may not apply to all practice situations. We recommend that legal advice be obtained from a qualified attorney for specific application to your practice. The information is intended for educational purposes and should be used as a reference guide only.
 

Complies with State Requirements

Please 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.