Healthcare Risk Management – October 1, 2004
October 1, 2004
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Simple strategies can help reduce falls and liability in your facility
Slips, trips, and falls happen in any health care setting, and they can be enormously expensive. The good news is that you can sharply reduce those accidents by aggressively employing some rather simple strategies.What to do if you witness a fall
Any hospital employee witnessing a fall should know how to document the incident clearly, says Ruth M. Maher, PT, DPT, MPT, BS, director of physical therapy at HyOx Medical Treatment Center in Marietta, GA. She suggests training employees to immediately note this information after a fall.Top 10 strategies for reducing slips and falls
Experts say these are the top 10 strategies for reducing slips, trips, falls, and the associated liability.If you want to reduce falls, you’ve got to plan
Slips and falls are a leading loss driver in both frequency and severity, says Jim Sheridan, senior risk control consultant with PMA Insurance Group in Blue Bell, PA.Self-assessments can be used against you
Insurance industry underwriters are relying more on risk assessments when you apply for coverage, but theyre not the only ones you have to please. The Joint Commission also has some expectations in this area, and risk managers could benefit from knowing exactly what the accrediting body wants.Hospital ad supports doc in malpractice case
Doctors accused of malpractice may find it a lonely ordeal as their colleagues avoid any association with the case, but one Maine hospital decided to publicly support a cardiologist on trial after the death of a patient.Children more at risk from adverse events
Children in hospitals often experience adverse patient safety events such as medical injuries or errors in the course of their care, new research shows.Long hours, nursing fatigue put patients at risk
A major nationwide study has found that the long hours worked by hospital staff nurses may have adverse effects on patient safety.Stolen info results in first HIPAA-related conviction
The U.S. Attorneys office in Western District of Washington state has announced that Richard W. Gibson, 42, of SeaTac, WA, pleaded guilty in federal court in Seattle to wrongful disclosure of individually identifiable health information for economic gain. The case is the first criminal conviction related to the health information privacy provisions of HIPAA that became effective in April 2003.Reader question: Carefully document patient requested ED transfers
What should our emergency department staff do when a patient requests transfer to another facility before being examined and stabilized? Can we comply with that request without violating EMTALA?Legal Review & Commentary - Failure to properly treat a puncture wound results in leg amputation, brain damage: $7.1M settlement
This case highlights the problems that can stem from traumatic lacerations, a common childhood injury.Audio conference: Including children in clinical research
Thomson American Health Consultants is offering an audio conference with the information necessary to help you recognize the ethical and regulatory issues related to working with children in clinical trials.Patient Safety Alert Supplement