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Risk Issues in Pulmonology: Lung Cancer Screening

In recent years, guidelines for lung cancer screening have gained momentum. This has resulted in more nodules found, more referrals made, and more risk for pulmonologists. An overview of pulmonology claims, an examination of the USPSTF guidelines for lung cancer…

Medical Error Prevention, Analysis, and Common Areas

According to the 2015 Institute of Medicine Report, there is substantial evidence that 1 in every 10 diagnoses is wrong. To improve the quality of healthcare and patient safety, physicians should know the causes of diagnostic errors (cognitive, system-related, overconfidence)…

Hospitalist Handoff Communications

Hospital medicine is the fastest growing medical specialty, comprising many specialties and disciplines. Hospitalists perform multiple handoffs per day per patient upon admission, between hospitalists at shift change, to and from numerous consultants and services, and to PCP upon discharge….

Hospital Medicine Risk and Claims

Hospital medicine is the fastest growing medical specialty in the US. Hospitalists manage high-acuity inpatients with serious conditions while under pressure to improve quality and reduce lengths of stay. This monograph will describe the strategic position hospitalists occupy in improving…

Pathology Risk and Claims

Pathologists are generally less likely to be sued than other physician-specialists. However, despite the low frequency of medical malpractice lawsuits brought against pathologists, pathology remains a high-risk specialty in terms of severity—the costs of claims. The average indemnity paid in…

I’m Sorry: How Louisiana Law Protects Compassionate Expressions

After an adverse event, patients look to their physician for empathy and an understanding of what happened. Physicians may defer this difficult conversation for fear of exposing themselves to a lawsuit. Indeed, legal advice in the past often supported a…

Pathologists and Social Media

Many pathologists are finding that establishing a presence on one or more social media sites can enhance their professional experiences. This monograph presents benefits and risks of pathologists’ social media use and recommends strategies to reduce the risks.