Healthcare Risk Management – September 1, 2004
September 1, 2004
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Special Report: Charitable Hospital Lawsuits - Trust and its perception: Hospitals and charitable lawsuits clash in the courts
Even if your hospital was not named in the recent wave of lawsuits against charitable providers, the alarm bell is ringing and you need take action now. -
Charitable Hospital Lawsuits - Review collection practices critically, suggests lawyer
The recent lawsuits filed against charitable hospitals has brought attention to the issue of collections practices in health care and made them a major risk, says Scott Becker, JD, a partner in McGuireWoods LLPs Chicago office and one of the co-chairs of the firms health care practice. -
Charitable Hospital Lawsuits - Serious EMTALA violations charged in charity lawsuits
When it comes to EMTALA, you dont want to just toe the line, says Bryan Liang, PhD, a professor of law, medicine, and public policy at California Western School of Law in San Diego. You want to be so far away from the line that no one could even suggest you crossed it. -
Charitable Hospital Lawsuits - Lawsuit primer: Hospitals accused of profiteering
Here is what you need to know about the class action lawsuits filed against some of the largest nonprofit hospitals in the United States. -
Charitable Hospital Lawsuits - Guidelines cover five rules for charity care, collections
Responding to the lawsuits against charitable hospitals, the Hospital & Healthsystem Association of Pennsylvania recently provided its member hospitals with a comprehensive set of guidelines addressing charity care, financial aid, and collection practices. -
Hospital investigated after improper photo is taken
A Denver hospital is facing strong criticism and threats of a lawsuit after emergency department staff photographed an unconscious patients genitals and left the photo on the mans digital camera. -
Newest JCAHO patient safety goals include falls
The newly released 2005 National Patient Safety Goals indicate that the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) will put special emphasis on efforts to reduce patient falls, infections, and misidentification of patients. -
Infant deaths subject of new Sentinel Event Alert
Incidents of perinatal death or permanent disability have declined steadily in recent years, but the tragedy still occurs too often, reports the Joint Commission. JCAHOs most recent Sentinel Event Alert addresses this issue with recommendations for lowering the risk even further. -
JCAHO offers up advice for reducing infant deaths
Because the majority of perinatal death and injury cases reported root causes related to problems with organizational culture and with communication among caregivers, JCAHO offers these recommendations. -
Medical error rate may be higher than IOM estimate
The number of medical errors per year may be twice as high as previously estimated, according to a new report. -
Medical errors concern most of public, study says
Hospital-based medication, surgical and diagnostic errors are of concern to most Americans, according to the results of a new Harris Interactive poll of 2,847 U.S. adults. -
Audio conference: Protect your tax-exempt status
Do you know what actions you can take to protect your tax-exempt status? And does your staff know about the many alternative services available to help the needy? Thomson American Health Consultants is offering an audio conference to help you learn where your hospital may be exposed, what policies and procedures you need to reform to preserve your tax-exempt status, and how to continue to provide necessary care for the uninsured. -
Legal Review & Commentary - An obstructed airway causes permanent brain damage: $24 million verdict in Kentucky
This case exemplifies the importance of establishing and utilizing express, written policies and procedures. -
Legal Review & Commentary - Failure to treat volvulus: $2.9 million settlement
This case reinforces the basic notion that all health care providers have a responsibility to assure that their patients are receiving appropriate care in a timely manner.