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RISK MANAGEMENT
GUIDELINES
- Good rapport with patients
and their families is essential to the prevention
of claims.
- There is no substitute for adequate documentation
in the medical record of care and treatment
and of the patient’s response. It prevents
the filing of superfluous claims and is vital
in the defense of a claim which is filed.
- The provider should maintain complete and
accurate notes and history of each patient’s
case. If the provider knows that a patient
has failed to follow instructions, his records
should show this.
- The provider should refrain from over-optimistic
prognosis; he should avoid promising too much
to the patient.
- The provider should avoid patient diagnoses
over the telephone or in casual encounters.
All oral instructions should be recorded in
the patient’s medical record.
- The provider should keep inviolate all confidential
matters.
- Informed consent is an absolute essential
in diagnostic and therapeutic procedures.
- Legal authorization to practice is essential.
- The provider should avoid any statement
or innuendo which might constitute, or be
construed as, a suggestion of negligence by
himself, other participants or employees.
- The provider should not tell the patient
or the patient’s attorney that he has
Professional Liability Insurance or that he
is a participant in a self-insurance plan.
All inquiries should be referred to the facility’s
Risk Management Office.
- Extreme care should be exercised in discussing
an incident with a patient, and under no circumstances
should an incident be discussed with the patient’s
attorney without prior approval of counsel
assigned to your representation.
- All claims inquiries should be referred
to the Risk Management Office and not discussed
with the patient or the patient’s attorney.
- Any request for medical information must
be accompanied by a letter of authorization
from the patient before release can be made,
and then this must be done via institutional
channels.
- Each provider must participate fully in
the prevention of litigation by EXAMPLE, EDUCATION
and COOPERATION.
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