OSE_1301_part1_Layout 1 1/11/13 10:52 AM Page 33
MEDICAL MALPRACTICE
• Facility level. Address risk during pre-surgical consultation. The best
way to do this is to be honest with your patients about what they can
expect from the actual surgery, the recovery and life after surgery.
Patients often aren't told these things or are sold glorified results —
and when they don't get those results, they sue. Give them realistic
expectations and document what you say, so you're protected should
the surgery result in a lawsuit.
At all times when a patient is in your facility, focus on quality of
care. Train staff to recognize when an incident could become a lawsuit and, when one occurs, collect as much information as possible to
filter through your general counsel, who should be someone you trust
to be objective. Get any potential case reviews done quickly.
Ensure that all licensure files are filled out properly. Be sure to
review patient documentation and lab results fully to determine
whether outpatient surgery is really the best plan of care. Train staff
to "defensively document" in all instances — careful, accurate, complete charting paints a picture of specific occurrences and reflects the
overall attention to detail in the care your facility provides. Nurse and
physician charting alike should provide clear, sound backing for clinicians' medical decisions.
• Corporate level. Develop policies and procedures to review marketing materials to incorporate risk management and to swiftly and
objectively review records. Make an effort to measure surgeon and
nursing satisfaction, and use their responses and ideas to devise ways
J A N U A R Y 2013 | O U T PAT I E N T S U R G E R Y M A G A Z I N E O N L I N E
3 3
