Healthcare Risk Management – January 1, 2006
January 1, 2006
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Patient Safety Alert supplement
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'Just culture' model called better, allows discipline for reckless behavior
The popular belief that a nonpunitive approach will reduce errors and not get in the way of proper discipline of employees is being challenged by new research that suggests the tactic may not be entirely compatible with efforts to improve patient safety. -
Defining reckless behavior hard with just culture
The difficult part of adopting a "just culture" philosophy may be defining exactly what constitutes reckless and willful behavior. -
System settles charity suit, and other payouts likely
The recent settlement of the Scruggs charity care lawsuit by a prominent West Coast health system means that more are probably on the way. -
Look closely at EMTALA in light of Scruggs suits
Allegations of Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA) violations as part of the charity care lawsuits should prompt risk managers to take yet another hard look at how their emergency department staff discuss payment with patients. -
Partnering with patients, family can improve safety
Partnering with patients and family members can provide dramatic new insight into patient safety issues and directly reduce medical errors, according to the experience of Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston. -
Patient safety rounds help problem reporting
One of the most successful Patient and Family Advisory Council (PFAC) efforts at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston is the practice of "patient safety rounds," ... -
Mandatory flu shots create dilemma for risk managers
Once again, clinical experts are debating whether it is necessary to require flu vaccinations for health care works but risk managers must look at the issue a little differently from infection control professionals and epidemiologists. -
Experts debate pros, cons of requiring flu vaccination
Most experts agree that offering flu vaccinations is a good idea, but the issue of requiring them can stir up a debate. -
Doctors often ignore 'black box' warnings on drugs
The "black box" warning on medications is the health care system's strongest way to say, "Danger! Take extreme caution with this drug!" But a recent report suggests that your physicians might not be fazed by the warning. -
Legal Review and Commentary: Development of decubitus ulcers leads to death, $250,000 verdict in Ohio
An 83-year-old nursing home resident developed severe decubitus ulcers. After the nursing home failed to treat the ulcers, they became infected, and the woman subsequently died. -
Legal Review and Commentary: Improper transfer to nursing home results in death
A 73-year-old woman with a history of peripheral artery disease underwent elective femoral bypass surgery. Post-surgical complications developed, but six weeks later she returned to the nursing home where she had been prior to the hospitalization.