Medical Malpractice Insurance News

Whether you’re a new dentist or someone who has been practicing for years, we all know that keeping accurate and up-to-date documentation is very important. We encourage you to read our most recent blog for a deep dive into the topic of dental records and why they’re important for you and your patients.

MLMIC describes how physicians, hospitals and healthcare organizations can support patient engagement through improved communication strategies.

“High quality” documentation – including physician notes that are timely, precise and complete – can promote patient safety and may limit liability exposure.

One of the most challenging times to be a dental practice owner is right after disaster strikes. Whether the emergency is related to weather, theft, cybersecurity breaches or something else, the owner must lead the office out of the crisis while mitigating the damage as much as possible. Recovering from a disaster at your dental office is possible, especially if the owner and other office leaders are familiar with emergency response protocol ahead of time. Here are eight important steps to take after disaster strikes your dental office.

It is challenging to handle dental record protocol in the event that paper or electronic records have been damaged or destroyed by floods, other types of storms or by a ransomware attack. When dental records have been damaged or lost by accident, natural disaster or criminal computer compromise, prompt and appropriate action must be taken to mitigate the damage and/or loss. Immediate remedial measures must be undertaken for the benefit of patients as well as the dentist and the practice, as these losses may involve records from many years of treatment.

After adopting 21st Century Cures Act compliance strategies, physicians say patient access to their records can lend itself to stronger engagement and higher satisfaction.

Patient generated health data adds a new dimension to practice management, and it’s important to examine it from a risk management perspective, including the protocols physicians and hospitals will need to utilize the data effectively and safely.

Despite strain caused by the pandemic, healthcare organizations must be diligent in protecting their networks and implementing measures that secure patient data.

The single most important factor in successfully defending a lawsuit or protecting a dentist from liability is good recordkeeping by the dentist. Legal concerns aside, good dental records also improve the quality and consistency of patient care.

MLMIC encourages policyholders to review attorneys’ answers to frequently asked questions on medical professional liability related to documentation in the medical record.