The archived articles from ISMA Reports available here discuss risk management issues you may encounter in your practice and offer helpful tips for addressing them. Refer to them often as a useful reference for you and your staff.
ISMA Reports Legal Article Archives
| 2011 |
|---|
Nov. 24, 2011
Follow these pain management tips to reduce your risk
I am concerned about liability exposure regarding pain management;
can you offer
any suggestions to reduce my risk with these patients?
Sept.
19,
2011
Here are suggestions for delegating tasks to your staff
What should I keep in mind when delegating tasks to my office staff?
July
25,
2011
Consider these risk management tips when implementing
an EHR
As a result of the new health care law, I am evaluating electronic health record
(EHR) systems. What do I need to consider from a risk management perspective?
May
31,
2011
Take these steps when patients leave the hospital against your advice
I’ve read there’s a rise in patients leaving the hospital early, against medical
advice. What do I need to keep in mind?
April
4, 2011
Here are reminders about your personal safety at work
I read often about patient safety – but what about physician
safety?
Feb. 7, 2011
Performing procedures at an ASC? Assess your risk, Part III
If my practice uses Facebook only to offer directions to the office, scheduling and other information are there still risks involved?
| 2010 |
|---|
Nov. 22, 2010
Follow these recommendations for a Facebook 'Fan' page
If my practice uses Facebook only to offer directions to the office, scheduling and other information are there still risks involved?
Sept. 20, 2010
Here’s some advice for Facebook 'friend requests'
I’ve received an an e-mail request from a patient who wants to add me as a friend on Facebook.
What do I do?
July 26, 2010
Performing procedures at an ASC? Be sure to assess your risk, Part II
What are the risks of associating with an ambulatory surgery center?
June 1, 2010
Performing procedures at an ASC? Be sure to assess your risk, Part I
What are the risks of associating with an ambulatory surgery center?
April 5, 2010
Anesthesia use comes with liability risks
As part of my practice, I sometimes perform invasive procedures such as biopsies, lipomas, sutures, etc. in the office setting. But I don’t use moderate or regional sedation. Am I still at risk of liability?
Feb. 8, 2010
Thinking about retirement? Here’re some things to consider
I will be retiring soon. What should I keep in mind, liability-wise, about closing my practice?
| 2009 |
|---|
Nov. 23, 2009 
Exercise caution when hiring locum tenens physicians
What are the risks to consider when working with locum tenens physicians?
Sept. 21, 2009
Dread giving bad news? Here’s some help
What suggestions do you have for giving patients bad news?
July 22, 2009
Medical record theft - protect yourself and your practice
I read in the New York Times that in 2007, the most recent year for which data are available, more than 250,000 Americans were affected by medical identity theft. Do you have tips to help me avoid theft?
May 26, 2009
Here are tips for treating medical emergencies in the office
Sometimes we’re faced with unexpected medical emergencies in our office. From a risk management perspective, what should we be thinking about at those times?
March 30, 2009
Maintain confidentiality if using social networking site
What cautions do you have for doctors using social networking sites??
February 2, 2009
Your practice, the Internet and liability risks
I am interested in developing a Web site for my practice. Are there any guidelines I should follow to help reduce liability risks?
| 2008 |
|---|
December 1, 2008
Risk managers offer reminders to reduce medication errors
What are some measures our staff can employ to help prevent medication errors?
November 3, 2008
Here are suggestions for times when patients can’t pay
What are my liability risks if a patient can’t pay for a test or treatment?
October 6, 2008
Use tracking and follow-up to minimize risk with 'no shows'
What are my risks and responsibilities for no-show patients? I'm concerned about those who present for an appointment or two and never return.
August 25, 2008
Use these tips when caring for patients who use nutritional supplements
What risk management suggestions do you have for treating patients who use nutritional supplements?
July 28, 2008
Chest pain: Liability risk in the emergency department
I'm a new emergency room physician; what liability risks should I be aware of?
June 30, 2008
Take action when records are stolen or destroyed
What should I do when records are damaged, lost or stolen?
June 2, 2008
Protect yourself by setting reminders for renewals
Do you have suggestions to help me remember my malpractice policy renewal date?
May 5, 2008
Keep these suggestions in mind when blogging
If I start blogging will I put my patients' privacy at risk?
April 7, 2008
Online e-prescribing: Risk or asset?
Do any particular risks exist for physicians who do e-prescribing?
March 10, 2008
Disaster planning involves practice, practice, practice
Do you have some tips to help my practice get started with disaster planning?
February 11, 2008
Small towns present special risks regarding confidentiality
I live in a small town where "everyone knows everyone." Are there any special precautions I should take with the charts of patients known to my staff?
January 14, 2008
The stress of malpractice litigation
I’m now involved in some malpractice litigation and the experience is proving extremely stressful. What suggestions do you have to help me cope?
| 2007 |
|---|
December 10, 2007
X-rays: To copy or not to copy
Can releasing original X-rays weaken the successful defense of a malpractice claim?
November 12, 2007
Back to Basics: Communicate your way to effective patient relationships
I've read that communication affects your medical malpractice threat; is that true?
October 15, 2007
Here's how to proceed when you've prescribed a recalled drug
Am I at risk because drugs I prescribed in the past have now been recalled?
September 4, 2007
Discussing a difficult topic: allegations of sexual harassment, misbehavior
In trying to cover all the bases, what tips can you give me for protecting myselft against allegations of sexual harassment?
August 6, 2007
Tips to discern drug-seeking behavior
How can I determine if a patient isa drug-seeker rather than someone with a genuine condition?
July 9, 2007
Tips for ending patient/physician relationships
What steps should I take to minimize my risk when terminating a patient?
June 11, 2007
Terminate patient/physician relationship with caution
What steps whould I take to terminate a patient, yet minimize my risk?
May 14, 2007
EHRs raise new risk management concerns
We're beginning to implement an electronic health record. Are there risks with this technology?
April 16, 2007
Don't fall into an e-mail 'trap':
What cautions do you have about using e-mail to send laboratory results to patients?
March 19, 2007
Proper triage protocols can reduce risk:
Do you have some tips I can pass along to my staff about proper triaging of phone calls?
Feb. 20, 2007
Print, dictate, fill in the blanks to avoid penmanship errors and reduce risk:
Should I be worried that my penmanship is putting me at risk?
Jan. 22, 2007
Risk managers weigh in on financial considerations versus clinical judgment:
How can I stay out of trouble yet advocate for patients when their insurers refuse to pay?
| 2006 |
|---|
Dec. 18, 2006
Make handling complaints an important risk-management step:
What should my staff and I do to really manage complaints?
Nov. 20, 2006
Potential emergencies in the office call for preparation:
How can we be better prepared to handle a sudden crisis in our office?
Oct. 23, 2006
Know what to document when patients refuse treatment:
What constitutes “informed refusal?”
