Risk Management for Medical Practitioners

Overview

Key Topics in Risk Management CME

Risk Management for Medical Practitioners focuses on the major risk management areas and legal pitfalls encountered in everyday practice and on enduring principles and strategies for managing these risks. This online CME course teaches risk management principles and current developments in liability prevention.

Through lectures and panel discussions, faculty address the impact of COVID-19 and its implications for clinical practice. Current concepts in malpractice prevention and risk management “hot spots” are emphasized, including best ways to diminish risks associated with documentation and informed consent. It’s available online, so you can conveniently earn CME credits while learning more about topics such as:

• Email communication risks
• Prescription monitoring programs
• Curbside consultation: Pros and cons
• Supervisor liability for nurse practitioners, PAs, residents, and medical students
• Strategies if sued
• Witness stand perils and opportunities
• Malpractice insurance coverage
• and many more!

Topics / Speakers

COVID 19 and Other Hot Spots in Risk Management - David Gould, JD, James T. Hilliard, JD, and Clyde Bergstresser, JD

The Importance of Communication to Prevent and Manage Medical Errors in Primary Care - Katherine Johnston, MD, MA, MSc, FACP

When Something Goes Wrong - Helpful Strategies for Communication, Apology, and Resolution - Stephen D. Brown, MD

Your Insurer's Perspective on Avoiding a Malpractice Case - Josh Hyatt, DHS, MBE, MHL

Telemedicine and Email Risks - James T. Hilliard, JD

The Important Notebook to Save Your Practice - James T. Hilliard, JD

Risks Including Potential Liability for Nurse Practitioners in 2021 and Beyond - Sara Smoller, RN, MSN, ANP-BC

Panel Discussion with Questions and Answers - Clyde Bergstresser, JD, Stephen D. Brown, MD, David Gould, JD, James T. Hilliard, JD, Josh Hyatt, DHS, MBE, MHL, and Sara Smoller, RN, MSN, ANP-BC

Risk Management Aspects of Documentation and the EMR in Clinical Practice - Thomas G. Gutheil, MD

Best Practice for Avoiding Malpractice - A Surgeon's Perspective - David Brooks, MD

Decision Making in the ICU - Lessons Learned from Covid-19 - Stanley A. Nasraway, MD

Liability Risks in Curbside Consultation - Clyde Bergstresser, JD, and David Gould, JD

Panel Discussion with Questions and Answers - Clyde Bergstresser, JD, David Brooks, MD, David Gould, JD, and Stanley A. Nasraway, MD

Surviving Your Deposition: Tactics and Tips - David Gould, JD, Thomas G. Gutheil, MD, and Clyde Bergstresser, JD

The Defendant and Expert Witnesses on the Witness Stand - David Gould, JD, Thomas G. Gutheil, MD, and Clyde Bergstresser, JD

Panel Discussion with Questions and Answers - Clyde Bergstresser, JD, David Gould, JD, and Thomas G. Gutheil, MD

Handling the Risks of a Judgment in Excess of Your Insurance Coverage and Benefits of Having a Personal Attorney - Clyde Bergstresser, JD, and David Gould, JD

How the Doctor and Nurse Practitioner Can Positively Influence the Jury - What the Very Encouraging Research Reveals - Linda S. Crawford, JD

Anatomy of a Case with Mock Trial Demonstration - Jerry M. Blaine, MD, Clyde Bergstresser, JD, David Gould, JD, and The Honorable Gregg J. Pasquale

The Clinician in Court: A View from the Bench - The Honorable Gregg J. Pasquale

Panel Discussion with Questions and Answers - Clyde Bergstresser, JD, Jerry M. Blaine, MD, Linda S. Crawford, JD, David Gould, JD, The Honorable Gregg J. Pasquale

Faculty

Accreditation

The Harvard Medical School is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

AMA Credit Designation Statement

The Harvard Medical School designates this enduring material for a maximum of 13.50 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits.™ Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Date of Original Release: January 15, 2022

Termination Date: January 15, 2025 (Please note that AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ will no longer be issued for the activity after this date)
Estimated Time to Complete the Activity: 13.50 hours

CME credit is awarded upon successful completion of a course evaluation and post-test.

ACGME Competencies

This course is designed to meet one or more of the following Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education Competencies:

• Interpersonal and Communication Skills

Disclosure Policy

Harvard Medical School (HMS) adheres to all ACCME Accreditation Criteria and Policies. It is HMS's policy that those who have influenced the content of a CME activity (e.g. planners, faculty, authors, reviewers and others) disclose all relevant financial relationships with commercial entities so that HMS may identify and resolve any conflicts of interest prior to the activity. These disclosures will be provided in the activity materials along with disclosure of any commercial support received for the activity. Additionally, faculty members have been instructed to disclose any limitations of data and unlabeled or investigational uses of products during their presentations.

Disclosure information for all individuals in control of the content of the activity is located on the disclosure statement in the PDF and printed syllabus.

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this activity, participants will be better able to apply the following:

• Describe the essential of risk management in medical, surgical and psychiatric practices
• Successfully navigate the realities of the COVID-19 Pandemic
• Document with diminished liability risk
• Outline risks of telemedicine, email communications, and electronic medical record
• Describe the risks related to your licensing board
• Discuss liability issues pertaining to the prescription monitoring program and the consequences of the Notebook
• Review strategies for improved communication when things go wrong
• Assess risks in supervising trainees, nurse practitioners & physician assistants
• Utilize strategic tips about liability protection from both plaintiff’s attorney and defense attorney and practicing clinicians
• Discuss informed consent and the heightened expectations of the Boards process rather than a signed form
• Better navigate the insurer's perspective about liability
• Distinguish between curbside vs. formal consultation and understand their benefits and risks

Target Audience

This activity is targeted towards physicians of all specialties, with a special focus on medical, surgical, and psychiatric practices.