Medical Malpractice Insurance News

Practicing diligent hand hygiene is a well-known principle of patient and healthcare worker safety and a standard precaution for infection prevention and control in dental practices. Hand hygiene is one of the most important steps that dental staff can take to prevent the spread of infections. Here are strategies to reduce hygiene risks in your practice.

MLMIC discusses how to mitigate risk associated with patient communication.

Using technology in your dental practice can be a great way to increase efficiency in care delivery, improve the patient experience and reduce costs to help maintain your office’s financial stability. But it’s hugely important that dentists ensure efficient and safe technology interoperability to keep patients safe and minimize liability risk. To stay vigilant and mitigate potential liability risks related to technology, read our blog for recommendations.

To mitigate risk, MLMIC examines common sources of medical errors such as medication mistakes, lack of communication and workplace distractions.

The American Hospital Association says the guilty verdict for a nurse who made a medication error “discourages health caregivers from coming forward with their mistakes.” The trial raises important questions about electronic device management, alert overrides and provider burnout.

While patient safety continues to be a primary focus across the healthcare continuum, increased efficiencies in the delivery of healthcare are also necessary to maintain financial stability and continuously improve the patient experience. Technologies like artificial intelligence, 3D printing, robotics, remote monitoring and nanotechnology seem to be constantly implemented or updated. Employing such technologies, and ensuring efficient and safe technology interoperability in dentistry, creates additional risk management considerations for dentists.

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

Amid another surge in COVID-19 cases, a New York State executive order requires hospitals or health systems with limited capacity to limit non-essential elective procedures.

MLMIC encourages policyholders to review these important Risk Management Checklists on patient safety, including guidance on managing equipment for patient care and safely caring for patients of size in the office practice.

In addition to researching symptoms and health concerns ahead of seeking care, patients are also turning to Google following medical appointments or instead of disclosing information to their doctors altogether.