Healthcare Risk Management articles from July 2006

Healthcare Risk Management archives from July 2006

Tenet settlement should chill risk managers on physician referrals.
July 1, 2006... Tenet settlement should chill risk managers on physician referrals Feds sought 'pound of flesh,' will not go easy on violations The recent settlement of a case involving referrals and kickback allegations has some observers reeling...

Can be hard to prove intent after the fact.
July 1, 2006... Can be hard to prove intent after the fact The lesson from the Tenet settlement is that even if your intentions were honorable all along, it can be difficult to prove that position once the federal government brings charges against you,...

Tenet statement outlines how referrals went astray.(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... Tenet statement outlines how referrals went astray As part of its settlement of a federal case involving allegations of kickbacks for physician referrals, Tenet Healthcare Corp. agreed to this statement explaining how the situation arose:...

Design becoming new focus for improving patient safety.
July 1, 2006... Design becoming new focus for improving patient safety Risk managers are accustomed to working with whatever physical surroundings they find in their facilities, making the best of work and patient areas that might not be optimal for...

Rooms designed to reduce falls, standardize all gear.
July 1, 2006... Rooms designed to reduce falls, standardize all gear Palomar Pomerado Health (PPH) in San Diego, CA, is incorporating several strategies for improving patient and staff safety with the design of its new hospital. Tom Chessum, AIA, principal...

More hospitals including patient safety in design.
July 1, 2006... More hospitals including patient safety in design More risk managers are getting involved in the effort to design safer health care facilities, says Anjali Joseph, PhD, director of research for The Center for Health Design in Concord, CA, a...

Evacuation plans for OR fires often overlooked.
July 1, 2006... Evacuation plans for OR fires often overlooked Risk managers recognize that fire is a serious risk in the operating room and require appropriate prevention efforts and response plans. But some experts are warning that you might be...

Movie helps teach OR staff how to evacuate.
July 1, 2006... Movie helps teach OR staff how to evacuate Staff also hold maps and practice routes Orientation for new employees was a particular concern at Presbyterian Hospital of Dallas because staff could be clueless about evacuation until the...

Disclosure often needs more than one talk.
July 1, 2006... Disclosure often needs more than one talk Question: We've been making a lot of progress in changing our culture regarding the disclosure of adverse events, but we're still getting some resistance from physicians and staff about talking with...

Harvard study: Malpractice cases not usually baseless.
July 1, 2006... Harvard study: Malpractice cases not usually baseless As tort reform efforts continue on the state and federal levels, a new study suggests that the idea of baseless malpractice lawsuits is somewhat overblown.1 The new study by...

Legal Review and Commentary: Jury awards $19.5 million against nursing home for failing to monitor resident with Alzheimer's disease.
July 1, 2006... Legal Review and Commentary Jury awards $19.5 million against nursing home for failing to monitor resident with Alzheimer's disease By Blake J. Delaney, Esq., Buchanan Ingersoll, Tampa, FL News: An elderly woman suffering from...

Legal Review and Commentary: Liability risks cut only modest number of doctors.(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... Legal Review and Commentary Liability risks cut only modest number of doctors Despite fears that physicians might be driven out of the market by steadily rising liability costs, a new report suggests otherwise. In a study released...

CE Objectives/Questions.
July 1, 2006... CE Questions 1. Which is true of the recent charges against Tenet Healthcare? A. To avert a third criminal trial as well as potential civil liabilities that could still result, the company agreed to a civil settlement that includes a...