Louisiana Medical Mutual Insurance Company (LAMMICO)

Assisted Vaginal Delivery

Assisted vaginal delivery (AVD) has been performed since the 1500’s but lost popularity in the United Staes in the early to mid-1990’s due to concerns that cesarean delivery may be safer than assisted vaginal delivery. Despite having proven this untrue…

Hormone Replacement in Peri- and Post-Menopausal Women

Many women experience significant, negative symptoms of hormone deprivation or are inadequately treated for those symptoms which can negatively impact their health and quality of life. As a reaction to the initial report of the Women’s Health Initiative (WHI) study…

Quality Improvement: The Basics

Hospitals and health systems must be dedicated to improving the quality of care provided. Knowledge of the foundational principles of quality improvement is necessary for all healthcare providers. This activity outlines basic principles of quality improvement including how to write…

Admissions After Ambulatory Surgery

Ambulatory surgery is growing in popularity among physicians and patients. While it can be convenient and less expensive, ambulatory surgery also has risks. The risks oblige all those involved with ambulatory surgeries to make effective decisions about what procedures to…

Diagnostic Safety, Part 5: Systems Factors

This activity discusses ways systems factors (flaws or weaknesses in organizational systems of care) can sabotage correct diagnoses. Think about a primary care practice with no specific policy for checking if patients actually go to recommended tests and consults, which…

Diagnostic Safety, Part 4: The Value of the Differential Diagnosis

In medicine, the formulation of a differential diagnosis is fundamental to the diagnostic reasoning process. It is less likely to find documentation of a differential diagnosis in cases that have diagnostic errors. This activity presents strategies to fortify the differential…

Infection Control Rounding in Ambulatory Surgery Centers

It is Monday morning, and you’ve been invited to participate in the infection prevention rounds in your ambulatory surgical center. This activity will take you on rounds through the OR, sterile processing area, pharmacy, and a construction site to identify…

AI in Medicine: Cutting-Edge or Legal Landmine

The emergence of AI in healthcare, initially signaled in the 1970s with innovative AI diagnostic tools, has gained renewed momentum due to recent breakthroughs in generative AI. This revitalization has brought to the forefront both the immense possibilities and the…

Ophthalmology Risk: Retinal Tears

Reviewing medical professional liability claims in their specialty can help ophthalmologists to improve patient safety and reduce liability risks. Although improper performance of a procedure is the top allegation for ophthalmology claims, ophthalmologists are often named in cases involving diagnostic…

Ophthalmology Closed Claim Analysis: Good Surgery, Bad Outcome

An adverse surgical event led to a professional liability claim against the primary care physician, referring ophthalmologist, retinal specialist, anesthesiologist, surgery center nurse, and the surgery center. Using an event chronology, this monograph traces the errors and contributing factors as…