Risk Management Publications

A Complaint Has Been Filed Against You: Cal/OSHA in the Season of COVID-19

As the private sector reopens, employees in medical office settings are making similar complaints as their hospital counterparts, which can generate a Cal/OSHA complaint letter to the business (your medical practice). Failure to respond results in an unscheduled inspection of your workplace and can result in fines if violations are found.

Specialist Referrals Are Not Always Enough

This column has frequently shown the risks of the primary care physician doing too much, but sometimes, he or she may have the tools readily available to handle an urgent situation

The 2020 Ballot Propositions

In a matter of weeks, Californians will once again be casting ballots in the 2020 General Election. While the presidential race will be taking center stage in November, voters will also be asked to cast their votes on 12 qualified initiatives. Here is a brief summary on each initiative appearing in the 2020 General Election.

The Experts at CAP Agency Are Your Personal Insurance Consultants

Concierge service is exactly what CAP seeks to deliver through CAP Physicians Insurance Agency, Inc., a wholly owned CAP subsidiary.

Update Your Membership Information to Help with Your Year-End Planning

If you are contemplating a change in your practice, please notify CAP as soon as possible so our Membership Services Department can review your options with you and make your coverage transition a smooth one. Changes include, but are not limited to: Retirement from practice at age 55+, part-time practice (e.g., 20 or fewer hours per week or 16 hours for anesthesiologists), or reduction or any change in the scope of your practice.

September, 2020

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August, 2020

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July, 2020

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Discontinuing the Patient-Physician Relationship

CAP's Hotline receives frequent calls requesting guidelines on discontinuing/terminating this patient-physician relationship, not because of wellness, but because the physician no longer desires to have the patient in his practice. From these calls, we have learned of "misunderstandings," which this article intends to clarify.

Who Must Sign a Death Certificate?

CAP member physicians frequently call our hotline with questions about completing a patient’s death certificate. Sometimes, they are reluctant to sign the legal document since they were not in attendance at the time of death. Other times, they inquire if their nurse practitioner or physician assistant can sign the death certificate for them.

Documenting Telephone Calls with Patients

How does your office handle telephone messages from patients?

Short answer: It should be like a well-oiled machine.

This article will assist physicians and their office managers to:

Educating Your Patients on Disposing of Unwanted Medications

Most physicians would likely not be surprised that many American homes have an accumulation of unused, unwanted, or expired medications. But did you ever consider the potential safety hazards these surplus medications present?

CAP COVID-19 Resource Center

CAP is committed to helping our member physicians meet the challenges that arise during the COVID-19 pandemic. To that end, CAP has launched our COVID-19 resource page, which will continually be revised with key guidance and current best practices. Among the useful resources the site currently offers are printable office signage templates, healthcare provider resources, and extensive guidance to implementing telemedicine in your practice.

The Latest Strategies for Treating and Protecting Against Coronavirus

As new information emerges daily around the Coronavirus and as the search for answers continue, the risk management and patient safety experts with the Cooperative of American Physicians, Inc. (CAP) would like to ensure that physicians and medical communities across California have access to the most reliable resources to remain aware of the latest strategies in treatment, protection, and prevention.

The Coronavirus Threat Lurking Beyond the Clinic

Outside of websites, texts, and social media posts advertising fake products, cures, and false information, physicians and their staff should be aware of phishing emails circulating throughout the healthcare industry, among others. CAPAdvantage program member, Acentec, has recently distributed an alert to warn the medical community of scammers who are trying to capitalize on fears surrounding the virus and its potential spread.

New Evidence About Severe Pulmonary Disease Linked to Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS)

Electronic Nicotine Delivery systems (ENDS) are the newest emerging technology in the epidemic of novel tobacco products that has been spilling out of start-up companies for the last 13 years. So physicians wonder, “How should I respond when my patients seek advice about using these electronic devices?”

How to Respond to Patient Grievance Letters

What should you do when your office receives a grievance letter from a health plan and a written response is requested?

How Long Do I Have to Keep My Patient’s Medical Records?

Here is the question asked most often on our risk management hotline: How long should our office retain patient medical records and billing information?

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