May 1, 2019
The Doctors Company analyzed 1,215 malpractice claims filed on behalf of pediatric patients that closed from 2008 through 2017. The study is based on the claims filed against physicians in 52 specialties and subspecialties.
March 7, 2019
Programs for combatting the opioid epidemic, reducing overdose rates, and addressing other addiction epidemic issues (including heroin and fentanyl) are explored by U.S. Surgeon General Vice Admiral Jerome M. Adams, MD, MPH. His comments were made to attendees at The Doctors Company's Executive Advisory Board meeting.
March 7, 2019
Susan Mann, MD, discusses the three most common potentially preventable causes of maternal death identified by the CDC and the top factors that lead to patient injuries. She also provides tips for plans and precautions that all hospitals should put in place to prevent maternal death from postpartum hemorrhage, venous thromboembolism, and severe hypertension.
February 4, 2019
Postpartum hemorrhage is the leading cause of maternal injury in medical malpractice claims. Darrell Ranum, JD, CPHRM, vice president of patient safety at The Doctors Company, explains how this condition results in injury or death and provides tips on how physicians and providers can reduce risks.
February 4, 2019
Studying malpractice claims involving preeclampsia and eclampsia reveals the key factors leading to patient injury and steps that physicians and providers should take to reduce the risks of maternal injury or death. These results are shared by Darrell Ranum, JD, CPHRM, vice president of patient safety at The Doctors Company.
January 2, 2019
The Future of Healthcare Survey of over 3,400 doctors shows physicians are disenchanted with practicing medicine, largely because of technologies and payment models they say are interfering with the doctor-patient relationship and their ability to provide quality care. Despite continuing volatility in the industry and resulting dissatisfaction, one of the predominant themes captured in this survey is the concern physicians share for their patients and the quality of the care they receive.
April 9, 2018
In this video, Jason W. Miller, chief executive officer at Reiter, Hill, Johnson & Nevin, the largest privately owned OB group in the DC metro area, explains how the group used The Doctors Company's Practice Safety Culture INSIGHT Service to perform a diagnostic checkup on the practice's culture and its impact on patient safety.
April 9, 2018
The Doctors Company studied nurse practitioner medical malpractice claims over a six-year period compared to claims against primary care physicians to identify risk management issues that may be unique to nurse practitioners.
March 21, 2018
Healthcare workers face significant risk of job-related violence: 52% of all workplace violence occurs in healthcare. Mitigating the risk of violence includes early identification of high-risk patients.
February 1, 2018
Ted Abernathy, MD, of Pediatric & Adolescent Health Partners in Virginia, used The Doctors Company's Practice Risk INSIGHT Service to do a full and comprehensive liability evaluation of his practice. The data-driven recommendations from this evaluation helped him find ways to improve safety and reduce his risk, including changes to protocols, policies, and forms, as well as establishing a parent advisory council.
December 13, 2017
Doctors: Don't just rely on technology. It is vital that you have processes in place for auditing, backing up, and cross-checking data in your electronic health record (EHR), according to Lily Talakoub, MD, FAAD, of McLean Dermatology and Skincare Center in McLean, Virginia, and The Doctors Company's EHR Closed Claims Study. Dr. Talakoub discusses the biggest risks identified in the study, including that imaging and labs are often not found or not followed up on in the EHR or errors with copy and paste, and shares the processes that her office uses to lessen these risks.
November 8, 2017
The role of electronic health records (EHRs) as a contributing factor to malpractice claims has increased over the past three years—with copy and paste errors appearing in 14 percent of these claims. These cases from The Doctors Company's EHR Closed Claims Study illustrate that danger.
November 8, 2017
The role of electronic health records (EHRs) as a contributing factor to malpractice claims has increased over the past three years—with incorrect use of templates being a top risk factor. This case study from The Doctors Company's EHR Closed Claims Study illustrates that danger.
October 19, 2017
Ransomware attacks against healthcare organizations are becoming more frequent and more sophisticated. These criminals are using bitcoin—leaving the transactions largely irreversible and untraceable.
September 18, 2017
If ransomware strikes a healthcare organization, paying the ransom may be an attractive option if the organization’s entire network has been compromised and no reliable backup exists. However, there are several compelling arguments against paying. This video discusses both options.
September 18, 2017
To take a deeper look at the opioid crisis, The Doctors Company reviewed 272 malpractice claims in which patient harm involved opioids. This video discusses the claims study findings and safe prescribing tips.
July 31, 2017
John D. Nelson, MD, an internal medicine hospitalist, describes changes he implemented as a result of the insights found in The Doctors Company’s Hospitalist Closed Claims Study.
July 31, 2017
Pacemakers, insulin pumps, and other medical devices communicate to a network via the Internet. This presents frightening possibilities about what hackers could do if they were to compromise a communication device embedded in a person.
May 12, 2017
Electronic health records (EHRs) must improve in three areas to reach their full potential and enable physicians to provide better care. As important tools in modern patient care, today’s EHRs must improve in the following areas: 1. User-centered design, 2. Alerts and alarms, and 3. Interoperability.
May 12, 2017
Cyberattacks against healthcare organizations, especially ransomware attacks, are becoming more frequent and more sophisticated as criminals seek to exploit a lucrative market for personal health information (PHI). Panic is the typical reaction when a healthcare organization suffers a ransomware attack. If an organization lacks a thought-out response plan for this type of crisis, people tend to overreact. They may do things that will make it harder to recover from the attack and could increase future liability. But an organization can avoid panic by having an incident response plan in place. This plan should provide a framework of actionable steps, including what to do, who is going to do it, and what is going to happen as a result.
May 12, 2017
Will doctors be replaced with computers? In this digital age, technology like IBM’s computer Watson is creating uncertainty about human-powered professions, including those of physicians. This video describes how the need for empathy and the ability to evaluate hundreds of salient points at once will preserve the careers of physicians.
April 3, 2017
Cyberattacks against healthcare organizations, especially ransomware attacks, are becoming more frequent and more sophisticated as criminals seek to exploit a lucrative market for personal health information (PHI).
April 3, 2017
Cyberattacks against healthcare organizations, especially ransomware attacks, are becoming more frequent and more sophisticated as criminals seek to exploit a lucrative market for personal health information (PHI).
April 3, 2017
Cyberattacks against healthcare organizations, especially ransomware attacks, are becoming more frequent and more sophisticated as criminals seek to exploit a lucrative market for personal health information (PHI).
April 3, 2017
Cyberattacks against healthcare organizations, especially ransomware attacks, are becoming more frequent and more sophisticated as criminals seek to exploit a lucrative market for personal health information (PHI).
April 3, 2017
Cyberattacks against healthcare organizations, especially ransomware attacks, are becoming more frequent and more sophisticated as criminals seek to exploit a lucrative market for personal health information (PHI).
April 3, 2017
Cyberattacks against healthcare organizations, especially ransomware attacks, are becoming more frequent and more sophisticated as criminals seek to exploit a lucrative market for personal health information (PHI).
April 3, 2017
Cyberattacks against healthcare organizations, especially ransomware attacks, are becoming more frequent and more sophisticated as criminals seek to exploit a lucrative market for personal health information (PHI).
December 16, 2016
Patient-facing technologies are rapidly transforming. However, there are still things that must be worked out in order to ensure measurements in new tools are accurate, advice given to patients is appropriate, and that there is clear guidance when patients should see a doctor rather than manage their own care.
December 15, 2016
A physician’s online reputation is just as vital as a physician’s reputation in the community, according to Kevin Pho, MD, of KevinMD.com, social media’s leading physician voice. In this era of transparency—when any patient can go online to research a doctor—it is more important than ever for doctors to proactively manage their online reputation. Patients often use the Internet to find information about a doctor, typically by Googling the doctor’s name. The search results can point the patient to physician-rating sites, which may have negative comments about the doctor. That’s why it’s important for doctors to establish and maintain an online presence that patients will find when searching.
December 15, 2016
Why do cardiologists get sued, and how do heart patients get injured? A study of 429 closed cardiology malpractice claims by The Doctors Company, the nation’s largest physician-owned medical malpractice insurer, revealed the most common patient allegations in these claims and the most common factors that contribute to patient injury. The goal of the study was to alert physicians and patients to the most common risks and areas for improved patient safety.
December 15, 2016
The healthcare industry suffers more data breaches than any other business segment—a total of 51 percent of all breaches. This video presents an overview of the cybersecurity threats facing healthcare organizations and what they can do to mitigate their risk.
December 15, 2016
The future of medicine includes digitization, improved electronic health records (EHRs) with increased access, personalized medicine, artificial intelligence, and interoperability. With the healthcare industry in the midst of a digital transformation, physicians and other healthcare professionals are faced with the challenges of improving quality, safety, patient experience, access, and efficiency.
December 15, 2016
Physicians can brand themselves on social media using a “hub and spoke strategy,” says Kevin Pho, MD, of KevinMD.com, social media’s leading physician voice. A doctor should first create a central hub, such as a blog or website. It is important to not create the hub on a third-party platform, because, in the future, the look of the platform could change or the platform could be removed altogether. Doctors should then create the spokes: social media outposts where they can engage with patients. It is important to keep the branding consistent across these platforms by using the same logo, slogan, and headshot.
December 15, 2016
The Doctors Company has always been guided by a fundamental belief: that the practice of good medicine should be advanced, protected, and rewarded in every way. Today, as healthcare continues to undergo unprecedented change, it’s more important than ever to be a strong, trusted partner to help healthcare providers focus on what they do best—delivering care.
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