As a healthcare professional, how knowledgeable are you about common risk issues that could result in you becoming involved in a malpractice lawsuit, state licensing board investigation, or HIPAA breach? It is important to increase your awareness of these issues to help protect your career and to keep your patients safe. Otherwise, your career, financial stability, and reputation could all be put at risk due to a misstep that could have been prevented.
Thank you for taking our short quiz to test your knowledge of common healthcare risk management issues that may lead to a malpractice lawsuit. For each question, there is only one correct answer. Once you have completed the quiz, you can receive your results and learn more!
This is a poor communication strategy to diffuse a tense situation. While engaging police or security may be necessary in some scenarios if the patient is acting hostile, healthcare providers should not threaten to do so in an unprofessional manner. Instead, if police or security presence is required, immediately request assistance using a prearranged distress signal if a patient uses profanity, makes sexual comments, states that he or she is about to lose control, appears extremely tense or angry, or seems under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
This is a poor communication strategy to diffuse a tense situation. While engaging police or security may be necessary in some scenarios if the patient is acting hostile, healthcare providers should not threaten to do so in an unprofessional manner. Instead, if police or security presence is required, immediately request assistance using a prearranged distress signal if a patient uses profanity, makes sexual comments, states that he or she is about to lose control, appears extremely tense or angry, or seems under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
Following an adverse outcome, communication deficiencies are sometimes a contributing factor in a patient’s decision to initiate legal action against a healthcare provider. Communication problems may include poor listening skills, such as interrupting others in mid-sentence, finishing their sentences or changing the subject abruptly.
Another common issue is inappropriate body language, such as fidgeting, glancing around the room, looking at one’s watch or the clock, or otherwise exhibiting impatience. Other negative nonverbal traits include lack of eye contact, poor posture, inattentive or irritated facial expression, or crossed arms or legs, which may appear defensive to the patient. Fortunately, good communication skills, including the critical nonverbal aspect of communication, can be learned and improved through practice.
Following an adverse outcome, communication deficiencies are sometimes a contributing factor in a patient’s decision to initiate legal action against a healthcare provider. Communication problems may include poor listening skills, such as interrupting others in mid-sentence, finishing their sentences or changing the subject abruptly.
Another common issue is inappropriate body language, such as fidgeting, glancing around the room, looking at one’s watch or the clock, or otherwise exhibiting impatience. Other negative nonverbal traits include lack of eye contact, poor posture, inattentive or irritated facial expression, or crossed arms or legs, which may appear defensive to the patient. Fortunately, good communication skills, including the critical nonverbal aspect of communication, can be learned and improved through practice.
Opinions, finger-pointing, and conjecture are not helpful additions to an incident report.
An incident report should be filed whenever an unexpected event occurs, such as a patient fall in accordance with your employer’s policies and procedures. The rule of thumb is that when a patient makes a complaint, a device or piece of equipment malfunctions, or any party (patient, staff member, or visitor) is injured or involved in a situation with the potential for injury, an incident report is required. In determining what to include in an incident report and which details can be omitted, follow your employer’s guidelines and concentrate on the facts:
Opinions, finger-pointing, and conjecture are not helpful additions to an incident report.
An incident report should be filed whenever an unexpected event occurs, such as a patient fall in accordance with your employer’s policies and procedures. The rule of thumb is that when a patient makes a complaint, a device or piece of equipment malfunctions, or any party (patient, staff member, or visitor) is injured or involved in a situation with the potential for injury, an incident report is required. In determining what to include in an incident report and which details can be omitted, follow your employer’s guidelines and concentrate on the facts:
It’s equally important to know what does not belong in an incident report. Opinions, finger-pointing, and conjecture are not helpful additions to an incident report. Do not:​
Keep in mind that entering your observations in the patient’s chart does not substitute for completing an incident report. In addition, completing an incident report is not a substitute for required documentation in the patient healthcare information record. Record clinical observations in the patient’s healthcare information record, not in the incident report. Do not reference the incident report in the patient healthcare information record. The report is a risk management or administrative document and is not part of the patient’s healthcare information record.
An incident report should be filed whenever an unexpected event occurs, such as a patient fall in accordance with your employer’s policies and procedures. The rule of thumb is that when a patient makes a complaint, a device or piece of equipment malfunctions, or any party (patient, staff member, or visitor) is injured or involved in a situation with the potential for injury, an incident report is required. In determining what to include in an incident report and which details can be omitted, follow your employer’s guidelines and concentrate on the facts:
It’s equally important to know what does not belong in an incident report. Opinions, finger-pointing, and conjecture are not helpful additions to an incident report. Do not:​
An incident report should be filed whenever an unexpected event occurs, such as a patient fall in accordance with your employer’s policies and procedures. The rule of thumb is that when a patient makes a complaint, a device or piece of equipment malfunctions, or any party (patient, staff member, or visitor) is injured or involved in a situation with the potential for injury, an incident report is required. In determining what to include in an incident report and which details can be omitted, follow your employer’s guidelines and concentrate on the facts:
It’s equally important to know what does not belong in an incident report. Opinions, finger-pointing, and conjecture are not helpful additions to an incident report. Do not:​
Keep in mind that entering your observations in the patient’s chart does not substitute for completing an incident report. In addition, completing an incident report is not a substitute for required documentation in the patient healthcare information record. Record clinical observations in the patient’s healthcare information record, not in the incident report. Do not reference the incident report in the patient healthcare information record. The report is a risk management or administrative document and is not part of the patient’s healthcare information record.
Communication may not always be confidential. For example, emails pertaining to client care, may be admissible in court as noted in the case study below
Communication between a healthcare provider and the patient or client may not always be protected. Read about this case study, in which a provider breached clinical, ethical and legal boundaries and standards of care by engaging in a personal and sexual relationship with his client. This case involved email communications that were not deemed confidential in a malpractice lawsuit. A risk management recommendation in response to this case is as follows:
Communication may not always be confidential. For example, emails pertaining to client care, may be admissible in court as noted in the case study below
Communication between a healthcare provider and the patient or client may not always be protected. Read about this case study, in which a provider breached clinical, ethical and legal boundaries and standards of care by engaging in a personal and sexual relationship with his client. This case involved email communications that were not deemed confidential in a malpractice lawsuit. A risk management recommendation in response to this case is as follows:
Communication between a healthcare provider and the patient or client may not always be protected. Read about this case study, in which a provider breached clinical, ethical and legal boundaries and standards of care by engaging in a personal and sexual relationship with his client. This case involved email communications that were not deemed confidential in a malpractice lawsuit. A risk management recommendation in response to this case is as follows:
Communication between a healthcare provider and the patient or client may not always be protected. Read about this case study, in which a provider breached clinical, ethical and legal boundaries and standards of care by engaging in a personal and sexual relationship with his client. This case involved email communications that were not deemed confidential in a malpractice lawsuit. A risk management recommendation in response to this case is as follows:
This option represents a constructive use of social media where healthcare professionals can use their knowledge and position to share correct information and boost awareness with their online networks.
Working in the healthcare industry involves a high level of responsibility because you are accountable for the wellbeing and safety of others. At HPSO, we know you care deeply about your patients – and we care deeply about you as a healthcare provider. That’s why HPSO is proud to serve as a leading provider of professional liability insurance solutions for healthcare providers and businesses.