Healthcare Risk Management – July 1, 2020
July 1, 2020
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Preoperative Assessments Can Be Weak Point, Increase Liability Risks
Preoperative assessments are critical to patient safety and reducing liability risks. Some assessments are inadequate and fail to identify risks that could be avoided.
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Some Attorneys Vow Not to Sue Over COVID-19 Care
Risk managers are bracing for what some fear will be a wave of malpractice claims related to COVID-19 care. However, some attorneys say they will not take these cases, arguing the treatment standard is unclear, and substandard care claims cannot be substantiated.
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Compliance Oversight Necessary with COVID-19 Relief Funds
Funds provided to hospitals through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act require careful compliance efforts to avoid substantial liability. The money comes with many strings attached.
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HHS Distributing $175 Billion in CARES Act Provider Relief Fund
The Department of Health and Human Services is distributing $175 billion to hospitals and healthcare providers to compensate for their coronavirus response. Through the Provider Relief Funds, $50 billion is allocated proportional to providers’ share of 2018 net patient revenue.
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OSHA Enforcement Prioritizing Hazards Related to COVID-19 Response
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has vowed to take a hard look at complaints and referrals related to employee safety during the COVID-19 pandemic. Healthcare employers should prepare to answer concerns about employee safety.
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Assessing Malpractice Coverage for Improvements
Medical malpractice insurance is a vital part of any risk management program, but it is easy to assume that whatever coverage you have had for a while is adequate. It may not be, and a regular review of your insurance policies is a good way to avoid nasty surprises.
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$30 Million Award Upheld for Negligent Treatment of Kidney Disease
Although unsuccessful in this matter, the defendant care provider raised an important defensive tool in medical malpractice actions: comparative negligence. States employ different applications of this legal principle.
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Failure to Diagnose and Treat Infection After Surgery Results in $2.75 Million Award
This case demonstrates the need to carefully monitor patients during the relevant times, particularly during and after surgery, and to investigate abnormal conditions. The primary basis for the medical malpractice liability in this case was the surgeon’s failure to diagnose and timely treat the infection, which escalated and caused severe, irreparable damage and pain to the patient.