APMA News - January 2012 - (Page 56)

Insurance Advisor By William F. Munsey, DPM An Ounce of Prevention QUESTION: As a result of the mounting economic pressure to see more patients in a given time, there are fewer opportunities to develop personal relationships with patients. This lack of a personal relationship has to be a factor if errors occur in a patient’s care. Do you have some suggestions to make up for this shortcoming? ANSWER: You identify a universal problem experienced by all professions and, yes, it can have consequences in relation to malpractice. The following are some areas worth examining: and you will find that information gets transferred with nearly 100-percent fidelity. 3. Document what you did not do. If you choose to follow a course of treatment that varies from the usual standard of care, document that you considered the standard regimen and why you chose the treatment plan you followed. This procedure will prevent the plaintiff’s lawyer from telling a jury that you were unaware of that treatment option. • Staff selection: Selecting and developing a competent, caring staff is the place to start. Your patients’ needs must be their primary focus. Listen to how staff members respond to patient needs and requests. Hold staff meetings to discuss interactions regarding patient needs—don’t wait until problems arise. Try to compliment your staff every day for things they are doing well. Hold staff meetings to discuss interactions regarding patient needs— don’t wait until problems arise. Try to compliment your staff every day for things they are doing well. 4. Think twice before you send a patient to collection for a small, unpaid balance. Consider sending the patient a paid-in-full statement in December. This act will engender goodwill for the holidays. You would only collect a small amount anyway. • Telephone: The telephone is the first contact most pa- tients have with your office. Patients are frustrated when it becomes difficult to reach a live person. A recorded response such as, “We will return your call within the next 24 hours,” is not very patient-friendly. • An ounce of prevention: Ini an article published some time ago in Physicians Practice , several trial lawyers made suggestions that might reduce your chances of being sued: 1. Document phone calls with patients. You should document every relevant communication with your patients. After-hours calls are no exception. Use a call-in transcription service voice mailbox on your office phone to be used for later transcription. 2. Guarantee that patients will receive lab and radiology results in a speciﬁc time period or their ofﬁce visit is free. That’s right. If you tell a patient he or she will hear from you regarding lab or X-ray results, the patient expects to hear from you. Not reporting results to patients (or not reporting them in a timely fashion) is a frequent cause of litigation, particularly if the results reveal something like cancer. The doctor assumes that the staff provided the information to the patient. The patient assumes that absence of information is positive. Tie the office manager’s bonus to how frequently refunds are tendered, 56 APMA News January 2012 QUESTION: I am a retired podiatric physician who likes to volunteer my services as part of a free medical clinic. Because I am retired, I do not carry malpractice insurance. Am I at risk if something goes wrong? ANSWER: You could find yourself liable; however, most indigent clinics carry malpractice insurance covering their volunteer staff. A similar answer would apply to professionals serving on a mission trip. If you have active malpractice insurance, you are protected if the mission does not cover your liability. The fact that you were in a foreign country would not void your insurance coverage as long as the claim is brought in the US. n Contact Dr. Munsey at wfmunseydpm@gmail.com. i Sara Michael, “Lawyer Repellant,” Physicians Practice, 20 (2010), accessed November 30, 2011, www.physicianspractice.com. http://www.physicianspractice.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of APMA News - January 2012

APMA News - January 2012
President’s Message
Contents
APMA Celebrates its Centennial
APMA by the Decade: 1912–1921
Updated List of Seal Holders
Paving the Path to Parity: A Look Back at 2011 State Advocacy Initiatives
2011 Podiatric Practice Survey: How Do Your Benefits Compare?
CAC-PIAC: The Only Constant in Health Care is Change
Reimbursement
Federal Advocacy Forum
APMAPAC Chair Report
IT Consultant
Can They Really Do That?
Website Wisdom
Technofile
Young Voices
Small Business 101
CPME Update
APMA All Stars
Awards Nominations
In Short
Worthy of Note
Resolutions Submissions
Affiliates Corner
List of Affiliated Organizations
Insurance Advisor
New Members
Death Notices
Annual Scientific Meeting Registration Form
Annual Scientific Meeting Sponsors
APMAPAC Update
Development Update
Classified Advertising
Dates to Remember
Advertising Index
10 Questions

APMA News - January 2012