Risk Management News and Education

According to the Medical Board of California 2017-2018 Annual Report, the Board’s Enforcement Program received 10,188 complaints against physicians, surgeons, and unlicensed individuals. This reflects an increase of 1,269 complaints (nine percent) over the prior fiscal year. The Board also referred 504 cases to the Attorney General for further action, an increase of more than 18 percent over the prior year.

What do you do when a patient comes into your office with a dog? Tell them to leave? Allow the dog no matter what? The answer is that it depends. Service dogs are governed by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the California Disabled Persons Act (CDPA), the Unruh Civil Rights Act, and the Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA). 

How does your office handle telephone messages from patients?  Are they recorded in a telephone log?  Added to the chart?  How are physicians notified about the call?  These are important questions because they affect patient outcomes and patient safety. 

As every patient visit concludes with a documented office visit encounter, the visit note should include when the patient is advised to return. It is important for the physician to document when a patient should return to the office and for what purpose.

CAP announced the release of its newest data study, A Focused Review of Radiology Closed Claims. While the central theme of the study is radiology, the data will be valuable to any practice that regularly utilizes radiology services. It is currently available for free here.

Risk management has always been a central component of CAP’s strategy to help its member physicians. Through its Risk Management Program, CAP provides a unique blend of services designed to help member physicians control the risks inherent in today’s practice of medicine and, thus, mitigate potential claims. 

The increasing use of electronic health records (EHR) has resulted in an increased ability to electronically track activities that occur within a specific medical record. This is accomplished by review of the metadata, audit trails, or audit logs. 

In our latest data study, CAP Risk Management staff evaluated 68 closed claims radiology cases that resulted in an indemnity payment between 2006 and 2015. Through claims analysis, we have identified areas to improve the medical diagnostic process. 

Research shows that communication and early resolution programs, such as Stanford’s PEARL Program and COPIC Insurance Company’s 3Rs Program, have been successful in helping both patients and providers during the stressful time after an adverse event.

The California Supreme Court has wrested back into the workers’ compensation system a claim of medical malpractice by a worker who alleged injury from a utilization review decision. The case overrules a lower court decision handed down in 2016.