Focus Series 101: Patient Communication

Risk Management Focus: Patient Communication
1 CME Category One Credit toward AMA Physician's Recognition Award

Information

The need for the program was determined from comments from previous seminar participants and from malpractice insurance statistics.

Goals

How important is communication as a risk management tool? Some studies suggest that as many as 63 percent of suits are based on communication issues: failure to keep the family informed; the patient's desire for revenge; or the perception that the physician or other members of the health care team were avoiding the family. Other estimates go as high as 80 percent. Not only is the relationship between patient and physician critical in malpractice avoidance, the relationship among physicians, nurses, therapists and other health care professionals can also play a role. Research has shown that one-third of plaintiffs sue because they are urged to do so by another member of the medical team.

Objectives

When they complete this seminar, participants should be able to:

Cite the most common motivators that prompt patients to sue.
Detect common communication traps that hinder relationships.
Know when and how to obtain informed consent in the office.
Develop a plan for strengthening your communication.

Methodology

This seminar is a self-study seminar, with CME test.

Target Audience

This seminar is designed for physicians of all specialties who want to sharpen their risk management skills. A basic knowledge of risk management and malpractice is assumed.

Faculty

This seminar was authored by Rosemary Gafner, Ed.D.

CME Information

This seminar is provided in partnership with Medical Risk Management, Inc.

Medical Risk Management, Inc. is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing education to physicians. Medical Risk Management, Inc. designates this continuing medical education activity for a maximum of 1 Category 1 credit(s) toward the AMA Physician's Recognition Award. Each physician should claim only those credits that he/she actually spent in the educational activity.

Required Time

Estimated study time: 45 minutes
Estimated testing time: 15 minutes