SPOTLIGHT -
May 10th 2024
Ramping up efforts against anticompetitive practices in business.
May 9th 2024
Small Business Committee sympathetic to independent physician practices.
May 7th 2024
Annual report calls for more efficient care models and for Congress to address looming financial shortfalls
May 2nd 2024
State becomes first to officially recognize PA title change
Following testimony in Senate, UnitedHealth Group CEO Witty appears before House oversight subcommittee.
Q&A: Insuring against antitrust and defamation claims
I've been asked to serve on my hospital's quality-assurance committee. If I accept, should I buy more liability insurance to protect myself in case of an antitrust or defamation lawsuit?
News: 10% of deaths after surgery could have been prevented, study says
Besides the obviously heavy toll that preventable post-surgery deaths take on patients and their families, the mistakes also have a high cost to insurers and employers.
Q&A: In-house referrals
I plan to work for a primary care practice owned by a radiologist who insists that any radiological procedures I order be referred to him and handled in-house. Would this violate Stark regulations?
Q&A: What to do for patients when you drop their insurers
I've decided not to renew my contract with a health plan that brings in lots of hassles but little income. Do I have to notify my patients who use that carrier?
Q&A: Am I in trouble if my Medicare carrier has asked to see a patient's chart?
My Medicare carrier has requested a copy of the chart for one of my patients. Does this mean I'm going to be audited? Should I call my attorney?
Physicians' emergency obligations
What are doctors' obligations to patients outside of normal office hours?
Lawyers consider several kinds of evidence to prove that the standard of care was-or was not-met
Lawyers consider several kinds of evidence to prove that the standard of care was--or was not--met.
Doctors hurt doctors, too
The author's quest to find out what went wrong with a "routine' needle biopsy was met by a stony wall of silence.
The downside of tort reform
Negligence and malpractice can injure patients, but so can juries, as this specialist discovered.
Does an open access medical practice reduce risk?
Open access or not, the physician patient relationship is still one of shared responsibility.
What legal idioms mean to you
When he went to court as an expert witness, this doctor discovered that legal idioms abound.
Tort Reform: AMA study--Caps are working
Limiting awards for patients' pain and suffering is helping to lower claims payouts-and, in turn, reducing physicians' malpractice premiums-in states that have enacted tort reform, according to a recent analysis by the AMA.
What to do when patients complain
What physicians should do to limit the likelihood that they'll be sued when patients complain about their care.
Giving medical advice on social networking sites
If you discuss medical issues and answer questions on a blog or other Internet-based forums, be sure to take these precautions.
A solution for America's healthcare crisis
These steps can mend our healthcare problems.
Tail insurance: Watch out for the gotcha!
With the right advice and proper planning, you can avoid the traps associated with this extended coverage.
How the new Stark rules affect you
You'll applaud some changes, but have trouble with others.
Perils when prescribing controlled drugs
You can limit liability risk when dealing with patients who are dependent on prescription medications.
Your risks when practicing telemedicine
Be prepared to defend your choice of telemedicine instead of seeing the patient in person.
Be careful what you promise
You can't always prevent undesirable outcomes, but you can help create realistic expectations
Lawmakers pressure DEA to okay e-prescribing for controlled substances
The Drug Enforcement Administration won't let doctors e-prescribe controlled substances, and that's a big barrier for e-prescribing in general.
When patients skip the follow-up
What is your liability when patients you schedule for follow-up visits fail to show up?
$200+ million verdict: It started with a midlevel's mistake
A huge malpractice verdict in Florida holds lessons for all doctors who use midlevel providers.
Walk-in practices can be risky
What's your responsibility to patients who come in without appointments and need urgent care, or more care than you're equipped to provide?
Get informed consent for risky drugs
To protect yourself, be sure to meet your informed consent responsibilities.
Residents' mistakes can hurt you
You can be held accountable for residents' mistakes that occur on your watch.
When the plaintiff is a doctor
If a colleague comes to see you, do you face a tougher standard when checking symptoms and giving treatment?
Chart mistakes that can burn you
Some words that sound innocent can zap you. Recognize--and steer clear of--these charting errors.
Don't avoid experimental treatments
Malpractice Consult
Check your own legal risk
By doing a risk management assessment, you can spot potential hazards, make your practice safer, and boost patient satisfaction.