MedPro Group claims data show that allegations related to surgical treatment represent the highest malpractice case volume for gynecology providers. These allegations also account for more than half of all dollars paid for expense and indemnity costs associated with gynecology claims.1
Read moreProviding inclusive and culturally competent care is an essential strategy for engaging patients, improving adherence to treatment, and helping address issues related to bias and health disparities. Often, discussions about culturally competent care focus on individuals who are racial or ethnic minorities or who identify with the LGBTQ+ community. Yet, another special and diverse population often is overlooked — people who have disabilities.
Read moreOpioid addiction is arguably one of the most significant public health crises in the United States over the past few decades. Increases in opioid prescribing and consumption in the late 1990s and first decade of the 2000s fueled an epidemic of overdoses, a national heroin crisis, and a rise in deaths from synthetic opioids.1
Read moreViolence is an undisputable issue in healthcare, and the media is rife with reports of violent acts occurring in various healthcare settings. Often, when thinking about violence in healthcare, stories in which patients or their families are the perpetrators come to mind. In some instances, disgruntled or mentally unstable employees act as the aggressors. Violence prevention programs often focus on these aspects, but sometimes overlook another crucial source of violence — domestic violence (including intimate partner violence).
Read moreThe telephone is one of the most important communication tools in healthcare practices. Telephone calls must be prioritized and routed appropriately so patients receive the proper medical attention. Telephone triage, like triage in person, is a critical step in ensuring that patients see the appropriate provider at the appropriate level of care.
Read moreIn healthcare, the basic concept of informed consent seems fairly straightforward. A patient is informed about a proposed test, treatment, or procedure; its benefits and risks; and any alternative options. With this knowledge, the patient decides to either consent or not consent to the recommended plan. In reality, though, informed consent is a more complex process that involves nondelegable duties and varies in scope based on the type of test, treatment, or procedure involved.
Read moreArtificial intelligence (AI) is a burgeoning field in health information technology and a key element in envisioning the future of healthcare. Daily stories trend in the media related to AI applications and their widespread potential for revolutionizing medical practice and patient care. Yet, akin to the promises of electronic health records in the early 21st century, the excitement surrounding AI has sometimes led to a sensationalized view of its capabilities while marginalizing technological and operational challenges as well as safety and ethical concerns.2
Read moreOne of the major red flags associated with artificial intelligence (AI) is the potential for bias. Bias can occur for various reasons. For example, the data used to train AI applications might be biased; research has shown racial, gender, socioeconomic, and age-related disparities in medical studies. Algorithms that rely on data from these studies will reflect that bias, perpetuating the problem and potentially leading to suboptimal recommendations and patient outcomes.1 Likewise, bias can permeate the rules and assumptions used to develop AI algorithms, which “may unfairly privilege one particular group of patients over another.”2
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