Risk Management News and Education

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. 

Medication errors and adverse reactions occur in all healthcare settings, including the physician's office practice. To mitigate these risks, rigorous medication management policies should be adopted in the office setting.

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.

Security cameras have become part of the public landscape, but do they have a place in the medical office? This article will provide an overview of the issues connected with installing video cameras in the office and a framework for deciding whether such surveillance might fit your practice.

The healthcare industry faces a growing risk from cyber attacks, which makes it critical for CAP members to devote sufficient resources to designing and implementing a strategy that can mitigate that risk.

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?”

For many physicians, a venture into cosmetic services is a huge leap from their normal practice and they are finding themselves in unfamiliar territory and with many questions. One question we get frequently at CAP is related to scope of practice in a med spa. In other words, who can do what?

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

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

What can physicians do to help educate and quell the fears of the parents and patients when discussing vaccinations? Taking a bit more time with them, explaining the facts and science of vaccinations, may more likely lead them to choose vaccination for their children.