Practice tip of the week: Ways to avoid a malpractice suit

lightbulb doodle © Matias - stock.adobe.com

With this in mind, the tip of the week is a chance to reflect on some of the wisdom found all across the site. In the April 2021 slideshow on ways to avoid a malpractice suit, Jeffrey D. Brunken writes the following:

Even the best physicians face the possibility of a lawsuit on an almost daily basis. However, research shows that many lawsuits today are not about medical errors, but about poor communication and misunderstanding.Below is a practical guide, based on 28 years of experience working with physicians, to minimize liability claims stemming from communication oversights and misunderstandings.

1). Be courteous – they will be asked clinical data and it should be at their fingertips

2). Do your homework - Physicians are pressed for time, but it’s vitally important to take time to review charts prior - not during - the appointment. Know about the patient’s previous visits and the reason for the current one.

3). Avoid the EHR trap - While electronic health records (EHRs) are an important advancement, it is critical to remember these are just tools. Remember that EHRs generally contain a time stamp showing when you reviewed it, and for how long.

Click here to read the rest of the article and be sure to check back next week for another Tip of the Week!