The medical industry is regulated by law, and a set of standards each healthcare provider, including doctors, nurses, psychologists and more, must follow. These laws and regulations govern how medical staff should behave when providing medical treatment, whether surgery or other.
For this reason, medical practitioners must follow these laws to avoid lawsuits. This article explores this topic, highlighting several strategies to assist healthcare providers.
Maintain Billing Documentation
One of the best ways to avoid a lawsuit is to ensure your billing information is accurate and recorded in the correct format.
Not only is this essential, but it also allows you to remain compliant and serve as a defense when patient issues do arise. While healthcare practitioners provide treatment within scope, sometimes, if or when patients are unsatisfied with services, accurate documentation does assist here.
Consider accuracy, where billing information is correct, and the correct billing codes were used for the respective treatment or services. Incorrect billing codes can lead to severe consequences.
Ensure your billing documentation contains the necessary patient information and treatment details. Additionally, submit claims timeously to avoid any payment delays. Lastly, find reputable ABA billing or other billing services to assist with this administrative task.
Effective Communication
Communication is often overlooked as an essential aspect of the medical industry; this is not to say that all medical practitioners ignore effective communication. The reason for effective communication is to avoid any miscommunication.
For example, a patient informs their doctor they have chest pains. The doctor then acknowledges the patient’s pain but simply brushes it off as “gas” and does not provide the patient with solutions. The patient then returns after passing out and becomes increasingly frustrated with the lack of communication from the doctor.
To avoid scenarios like these, consider the following. Active listening has been key to preventing any miscommunication — this includes showing empathy and listening to the patient’s concerns. Providing a patient with clarity on medical terms allows them to easily understand treatments and procedures, leaving little to no room for confusion.
Patient Consent
Contrary to popular belief, medical practitioners must obtain patient consent before treatment can commence. This is not only an ethical practice but also a legal requirement in the medical field. It ensures a patient understands the risks and benefits of the proposed procedure.
When obtaining patient consent, consider the following: provide a detailed explanation of the procedure, highlight exactly what they should expect, and let them know if there are any side effects. Answer patient questions thoroughly so that they understand everything about their procedure. Additionally, obtain written consent and ensure the consent is filed.
Comply With Standard Care Guidelines
It is crucial to establish a set of care guidelines, keeping in mind the overall standards set by governing bodies. The aim is to provide quality care and stay within the guidelines you have set out. Stay up to date on the latest medical guidelines and best practices and review them at least twice a year.
Base treatments on best practices already established in the medical field and make decisions based on the latest technology and research. Allow your peers to review your standards to ensure you are meeting patient expectations.
Maintain Accurate Records
This is an expectation throughout the medical industry and is one of the best ways to ensure you avoid lawsuits. Comprehensive medical records should be detailed and include all necessary information, including patient details and treatment information.
To assist with this, it is advised to incorporate an electronic health record system that ensures the information is in the correct format while simultaneously reducing errors. Remember that you must have strict security measures in place to ensure the data is always protected.
Maintain Patient/Doctor Relationship
Sometimes, a meaningful relationship between a medical practitioner and the patient can make a difference. Professional relationships with patients can reduce the likelihood of lawsuits. Patients who trust their healthcare are less likely to sue. Build rapport from the start by showing respect and empathy. Be consistent with feedback and communication, sharing feedback on time.
Educate your patient empathetically, being sensitive to their concerns and questions while empowering them to make informed decisions. Lastly, implement a feedback mechanism that allows you to address a patient’s concerns promptly.
Risk Management
There are several ways to mitigate risks, and it’s crucial to have a risk plan in place to identify potential areas of liability. Complete a risk assessment at least once a year to establish where the gaps are. One can also have a yearly audit to ensure any risks have been identified. Also, consider training your staff to identify risks and document them so they can be addressed.
Incident reporting is vital, so it is advised to create an incident reporting system where you can analyze trends and near misses. Lastly, have legal representation as part of your risk analysis and ensure you are compliant.
Best Practices Avoids Lawsuits
Avoiding lawsuits in the medical industry might seem complex. However, there are essential best practices that healthcare providers should follow to comply. Look at your billing documentation and ensure it is up to standard.
Enhancing communication skills to avoid any miscommunication, obtaining written consent from patients before treatment commences, maintaining accurate medical records, and establishing risk management protocols to identify any issues are all best practices in this industry.