Medical Malpractice Insurance News

Characterizing prescription errors as “relatively common but preventable,” The Pharmaceutical Journal has published recommendations for preventing the mistakes, which can represent threats to patient safety.

Two new online CME modules – “High Exposure Liability: Errors in Diagnosis – Parts I & II” — feature a physician expert and a defense attorney discussing factors that contribute to diagnostic errors and offering strategies for improving patient care and reducing potential risk.

Researchers are looking at how better measurement of diagnostic errors may help physicians track performance, gauge the effectiveness of interventions, reduce errors and improve patient outcomes.

A recent New York Times column reports on a growing body of research shows that physician burnout and depression are linked to medical errors and that nearly half of physicians experience burnout at some point.

Providing physicians with more “thinking time” and space for decision making may assist them in determining the appropriate diagnosis.

Effective communication is imperative in ensuring patient safety, especially during patient handoffs.