These presentations are approved for CME, CDE, and LAMMICO Risk Management credits. Specific credit information is available for each presentation when you register for our Members-Only section.
The following online courses are available to Louisiana policyholders unless noted next to the course title.
 Beyond Informed Consent: Partnering with the Patient
Description: Patients have more choices than ever before about new procedures and treatments. The proliferation of medical news in the popular media fuels unrealistic expectations for a perfect outcome, making a truly Informed Consent more important than ever. However, Informed Consent continues to be a source of medical error and medical malpractice claims. Obtaining consent is sometimes delegated to someone other than the physician performing the procedure; it is sometimes reduced to obtaining a signature on a piece of paper. As a result, written consent can be perceived by the patient as a waiver of liability for the physician and facility, and not a benefit to the patient. A recent journal article has proposed a return to the original intent of the consent process: Patient Education. It is believed that returning to an educational model will result in a better educated, more medically compliant patient population with better outcomes and fewer lawsuits. This Internet educational activity will inform practitioners of the necessary components of the consent process according to Louisiana law and how these may be integrated into an educational model.
Log in to view this course
Managing the Risks of Anticoagulant Therapy (Available to Louisiana, Arkansas, Mississippi & Texas providers)
Description: Primary care physicians manage many of the patients on long term anticoagulant therapy. They perform a difficult balancing act on a daily basis, weighing each patient’s risk of thromboembolism versus hemorrhage. The preponderance of current medical literature identifies under-utilization of anticoagulants as a major problem, and cites the burden of frequent blood work and fear of bleeding as the reason for under-utilization. The Joint Commission has made reducing the risk of patient injuries from anticoagulation therapy a new National Patient Safety Goal. Several professional organizations have advocated a more systematic approach to managing these medications. This self-paced Internet activity will draw from the medical literature and claims data to recommend means to reduce the risk in managing anti-coagulant therapy in primary care.
Log in to view this course
Professional Liability Risks for Family and General Practice (Available to Louisiana, Arkansas, Mississippi & Texas providers)
Description: Primary care physicians are in short supply, posing the risk of patient overload and increased medical error. Malpractice claims for Family and General Practitioners are on the rise. This Internet presentation reviews the most common medical misadventures for Family and General Practice (missed or delayed diagnosis of myocardial infarction, breast cancer, appendicitis and colon cancer). The claims data are reviewed for each, and recommendations are presented for reducing malpractice risk and improving patient safety.
Log in to view this course
Acute Myocardial Infarction
Description: Acute Myocardial Infarction (AMI) often presents clinically in an unfolding and confounding manner, creating a risk-laden situation for both patient and physician. Missed or delayed diagnosis is the most common medical misadventure for primary care and emergency physicians. This Internet self-paced activity presents malpractice claims data and research findings that illuminate the sources of error in diagnosing AMI and suggest methods for reducing error.
Log in to view this course
Dental Documentation and Informed Consent
Description: With the proliferation of new dental treatments available, dental documentation and informed consent have become more important than ever. Yet documentation and consent continue to be linked to errors and malpractice claims. This presentation will cover what belongs in the chart and what does not; when information may be released and when it may not; and how to make your records more defensible in the event of a malpractice claim. There will be a review of the recommended elements of informed consent, with an emphasis on consent as a 2-way process of communication and education. This Internet presentation includes web links to good resources that may be downloaded on the spot by participants.
Log in to view this course
Malpractice Claims, Discovery Depositions and Defense
Description: When a physician or other healthcare practitioner receives a subpoena or notice of a malpractice claim, it can be a shock to the system and an entree into unfamiliar territory. The stress of litigation can impair the physician’s health and ability to meet the professional obligations of patient care. This Internet activity seeks to reduce litigation stress by orienting the physician to the claims defense process. There will be a walk-through of the discovery phase including subpoenas, giving depositions, and the Medical Review Panel process. It will inform and advise the insured how to best assist in the defense of a claim.
Log in to view this course
End of Life Communication in the Acute Care Setting
Description: Most people die in hospitals; yet families report regret and dissatisfaction with the experience of a loved one dying in the hospital. Over a quarter of malpractice claims in Louisiana are related to the death of a patient. Patients and family expect the doctor to take the lead in psychosocial support and communication, but physicians are not trained to do this outside of the hospice setting. This self-paced Internet presentation is designed to take what hospice practitioners know about end of life communication and present it to the physician caring for the dying patient in the hospital.
Log in to view this course
Incidents, Claims and Notice of Claims, a What-to-Do Guide
Description: Many insured physicians and healthcare practitioners do not know what to do in the event of a malpractice claim or potential claim. For many, receiving notice of a claim is stressful and can impair one’s health and ability to carry out the professional duties of patient care. This Internet self-paced activity aims to reduce litigation stress and inform our insureds of the difference between a claim and potential claim, what to do in the event of a claim and especially what not to do. The claims process is explained, and resources for reducing stress, risk and defense costs are identified.
Log in to view this course
General Surgery: Causes of Claims and How They Can Be Reduced
Description: General surgeons rank 4th in malpractice claims nationally and in Louisiana, a disproportionate figure. A recent study by the American College of Surgeons breaks new ground in isolating the causes of general surgery claims, with findings that may be unexpected. Most general surgery malpractice claims do not originate with technical misadventure in the O.R – but rather with physician behaviors outside the Operating Room. This Internet self-paced activity will present findings lending themselves to specific risk management recommendations for reducing risk for general surgeons.
Log in to view this course
Mid Level Providers: Risk Management Issues
Description: Physicians and dentists increase their risk whenever they hire anyone, including an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) or Physician Assistant (PA). Physicians and dentists who fail to meet the requirements of working with mid-level providers are at increased risk for medical error and malpractice claims. This Internet self-paced activity will identify the scope of practice, the licensing regulations, and the means to successfully manage risk in employing, supervising and collaborating with mid-level providers.
Log in to view this course
Obstetrics and Gynecology Malpractice Claims: 4 Case Studies (Available to Louisiana & Arkansas providers)
Description: Obstetrics-gynecology is the highest risk of all specialties on every measure of medical malpractice claims. 4 case studies are presented (c-section, shoulder dystocia, breast cancer and sterilization). This self-paced Internet activity uses these cases as examples to illustrate where the risk lies in these procedures, and to present risk management recommendations for reducing risk in this specialty.
Log in to view this course
Risk Management in Ophthalmology
Description: Ophthalmology ranks 10th out of 28 specialties in frequency of malpractice claims based on 20 years of past national claims data. The post-war Baby Boom generation has just now begun reaching retirement age. It may be anticipated that the number of eye surgeries will increase dramatically and along with it, malpractice risk. This self-paced Internet activity examines the malpractice risk associated with the practice of ophthalmology and presents claims data to illustrate where the risk lies and how to reduce it. Case studies include: Cataract and YAG capsulotomy, eyelid surgery, retinal detachment, laser surgery for diabetic retinopathy, and glaucoma.
Log in to view this course
The Impact of Patient Communication on Litigation
Description: Medical malpractice claims are a measure of patient dissatisfaction with medical care received. However, several studies of plaintiff depositions show that most medical malpractice claims are prompted by non-medical reasons; and that there is a strong connection between physician communications and claims. This self-paced Internet activity presents a review of the literature and claims data, including a study of specific physician communication practices that are low- and high-risk for claims.
Log in to view this course
Physician Relationships
Description: Failures in physician communication account for a large proportion of medical errors and medical malpractice claims. A significant sub-set of these are identified as failures in physician-to-physician communications. This presentation discusses how to reduce risk in several areas of MD-to-MD relations including: the on-call and coverage relationship, the referral-consultation relationship, and jousting.
Log in to view this course
Reducing Medication Errors: A 2008 Update (Available to Louisiana, Arkansas, Mississippi & Texas providers)
Description: The number of drugs available and prescribed has increased greatly, and with it the incidence of medication errors. The IOM and Joint Commission have identified preventable medication errors as a high-profile patient safety issue. This Internet self-paced activity will review medical malpractice claims data to illustrate the types of drugs, the types of errors, case studies, and best practices for reducing medication error.
Log in to view this course
Overcoming Barriers to Medical Compliance (and Patient Dismissal as Last Resort)
Description: Medical noncompliance is immensely costly. It is closely associated with adverse patient outcomes and malpractice claims against the treating practitioner. This self-paced Internet activity presents barriers to compliance and physician responsibilities in assisting the patient to overcome those barriers. Information is provided on how to properly dismiss a patient as a last resort, while avoiding the risk of patient abandonment.
Log in to view this course
Why Patients Become Plaintiffs (Available to Louisiana, Arkansas, Mississippi & Texas providers)
Description: It has been estimated that 25% of physicians in the US get sued every year; and 50-65% may expect to be sued one or more times during their careers. A malpractice claim represents the ultimate breakdown in the doctor-patient relationship. Examining the reasons for malpractice claims can inform the practitioner how to improve care, promote rapport, and reduce risk. This self-paced Internet activity presents a review of the literature and claims data showing the non-medical reasons why patient sue their physicians, and what physician communication behaviors are associated with high and low claims experience. Patient clues are defined, and a depiction of how missing patient clues can lead to patient dissatisfaction and malpractice claims.
Log in to view this course
|