Healthcare Risk Management – March 1, 2004
March 1, 2004
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In a settlement, seeing change may be what a plaintiff wants instead of money
Where plaintiffs once focused entirely on the settlement amount, even when they had heartfelt grievances, todays plaintiffs are much more likely to demand that you change whatever they think led to their tragedies. -
A plaintiff who wanted more than just money
When two medical tragedies struck Susan Sheridans family, one of her responses was typical and, most would say, entirely justified. She contacted an attorney and sued the health care providers for malpractice. But Sheridan took a different path from most plaintiffs by focusing more on quality improvement than the amount of money in the settlements. -
HIPAA compliance requires strong focus on documents
Nearly every document that makes any mention of a patient in your facility can be considered protected health information under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), says Veronica A. Marsich, JD, a shareholder with the law firm of Smith Haughey in East Lansing, MI, specializing in health care issues. -
Tips for ensuring you’re in compliance with HIPAA
These tips for complying with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) are offered by Veronica A. Marsich, JD, a shareholder with the law firm of Smith Haughey in East Lansing, MI. -
Reducing restraint by 99% brings less staff turnover
A behavioral health care center in Mississippi is proving that a concentrated effort to reduce restraint can yield great improvements not only for the patients but also for the bottom line of the health care facility. -
Hospital improves error prevention with automation
A California hospital recently saw a 250% improvement in preventing medical errors related to medications after introducing pharmacy automation. Hospital leaders say the use of bar coding and computerized physician order entry has greatly improved patient safety. -
Capped malpractice awards lead to lower premiums
Medical malpractice insurance premiums are 17.1% lower in states that have capped court awards, although the lack of such tort reform measures in other states does not fully explain recent jumps in what physicians pay to cover the cost of malpractice suits, says Kenneth E. Thorpe, PhD, chairman of the health policy and management department at the Emory University Rollins School of Public Health in Atlanta. -
Let employee health handle falls to help reduce the risk
When employees are injured in falls, should they be sent to the emergency department or the employee health clinic? -
Hospital to pay $9.5 million for Medicare billing issues
A hospital in Greenville, SC, will pay nearly $9.5 million to resolve Medicare billing improprieties from 1997 through 1999 in its home health, hospice, and durable medical equipment programs, the Office of Inspector General announced recently. -
Legal Review & Commentary: Patient dies following peritonsillar surgery, and an $865,000 verdict is returned
A young man went to an emergency department in the afternoon complaining of discomfort in his throat. Surgery was performed to address an abscess. That evening, after his family had gone home, he suffered from cardiac arrhythmia, went into a coma, and died three days later. His wife and two sons brought suit for wrongful death. -
Legal Review & Commentary: Failure to monitor airway leads to Maryland death
A post-kidney transplant patient was admitted to a hospital with urosepsis and was placed in the intensive care unit. He was intubated; but when his airway became obstructed, efforts to correct the situation were unsuccessful, and he died. The case settled for $800,000.