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Current Target Area: Surgery

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Articles

Surgery-related Claims and the Systems Involved Surgery represents an area of high risk and liability. If current trends continue, a surgeon's (annual) probability of being named in a malpractice claim or suit may soon reach one in 20. In conjunction with increased frequency is the rising cost of surgery-related cases. By Kathleen Dwyer, MS.

A Conversation with Lucian Leape RMF speaks with Dr. Lucian Leape, Adjunct Professor of Health Policy at the Harvard School of Public Health. Formerly a pediatric surgeon, Dr. Leape has pioneered the patient safety movement through his research into medical errors.

Preventing Harm from Surgical Error: Is Human Factors the Next Piece of the Puzzle? Can patient safety be improved substantially if cognitive engineering principles are applied to the operating room? By Kathleen Dwyer, MS.

Review: Informed Consent Informed consent is an ongoing process inherent in patient care. The underlying principle of informed consent is that patients have the right to be told what to expect and to determine what be done with their bodies.

FAQs: Informed ConsentWhat to disclose in the consent process? General or procedure specific consent forms? Issues when the patient is a minor? Refusal to sign a consent form? Refusal during a delivery?

Consent Guidelines for CRICO Insured InstitutionsGuidelines approved by Controlled Risk Insurance Company, March 12, 1990 as Loss Control Requirements of Shareholder Institutions.

Ten Tips for Presenting Closed Claim Abstracts for Grand RoundsBy Peggy Berry Martin, M.Ed., Updated by Nancy Hudecek, RN, MS.

Using Closed Malpractice Claims as Teaching Tools By Peggy Berry Martin, M.Ed.

Closed Claim Abstract: Multiple Systems Breakdown Following several days of care in various settings, a patient with history of abdominal pain dies while being intubated. By Kathleen Dwyer, MS.

Closed Claim Abstract: Physician-Patient Relationship: Post-op FallFollowing surgery on his left eye, a 79-year-old patient fell out of bed and fractured his wrist.

Closed Claim Abstract: Patient at Increased RiskA mother with numerous prenatal complications delivered a premature baby with severe neurological damage. The importance of documentation in cases involving perinatal injuries.

Audio

Legal Report: April 2003
Legal editor Frank Reardon reviews a recent appeals court ruling that shows how difficult it is to defend against charges of negligence in cases with slips and falls.

Med Error Prevention in the ORA national non-profit organization identified problems that combined two common claim areas: medication errors…in the operating room.

Abstract - April 2003 Tom Augello speaks with Dr. Luke Sato, a physician and Chief Medical Officer and Vice President of Loss Prevention and Patient Safety at Risk Management Foundation on the risk management and patient safety implications of a recent closed case.

Interactive Learning Modules

Liability in Surgery Exercise Review surgery accounts and make appropriate choices at key points.

Nature & Causes of Error & Injury Poll Submit your views and see what others have said regarding patient safety from the clinician's perspective.

RMF Strategies