Rounds Series 207: Psychiatry

Risk Management Rounds: Psychiatry
5 CME Category One Credits toward AMA Physician's Recognition Award

Information

The need for the program was determined from comments from previous course participants and from malpractice insurers' statistics.

Goals

After years of spiraling malpractice lawsuits, there is finally some good news for physicians on the malpractice front. Recent changes to tort laws in various venues across the country have had some positive effects on malpractice litigation. In states that have capped damages, the frequency of suits is predicted to drop, and insurance may become less difficult to obtain.

Nevertheless, the practice of medicine in general, and psychiatry in particular, still carries risk. Patients who experience less-than-perfect outcomes are still prone to sue. And in a society that wants quick fixes to medical problems, patients who must undergo long-term treatment for mental or social problems can easily become frustrated.

Objectives

Analyze a case scenario to determine whether it meets the criteria for malpractice.
Discuss four communication factors that often contribute to malpractice cases.
Name the characteristics of a defensible medical record.
Identify five areas of risk unique to psychiatry.

Target Audience

This seminar is designed for physicians specializing in psychiatry who want to sharpen their risk management skills specifically related to psychiatry. A basic understanding 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 education activity for a maximum of 5 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.

This activity was planned and produced in accordance with the ACCME Standards for Enduring Materials.

Physicians who satisfactorily complete this seminar with a score of 80% or better will receive a certificate of completion that will document their participation in this program.

Required Time

Estimated study time: 4.5 hours
Estimated testing time: 30 minutes