Best Practices in Documentation: Caring for Patients Unable to See Mental Health Specialists in a Timely Manner
At a time when so many people are in need of mental health services, what is the best way to protect yourself when your patient can't get a timely appointment? The experts at COPIC say proper documentation is key.
Lessons in Liability: Against Medical Advice
Against medical advice discharges can be both distressing and dangerous, both because of the health risks to the patient and the liability risks to the provider.
Heightened Awareness to Reduce Missed Diagnosis of Infections
Why are allegations of negligent delay in diagnosis and/or inadequate treatment of infections still so common? This case study and its fallout shed some light and may help keep this from happening to you and your patients.
The Importance of an Accurate Problem List
COPIC expert Eric Zacharias, MD, with a case study that illustrates how, during routine screening visits, symptomatic evaluations can be lost to follow up.
Medication Management In Older Adults: Beers Criteria Update
Allegations of medication prescribing errors remain a leading cause of medical liability lawsuits in all patients and are particularly common in the elderly population.
Surgery and Cannabis: Should You Screen All Patients Before Surgery?
Over the last two decades, there has been a significant increase in the number of Americans who regularly use cannabis with approximately 10% of the population reporting monthly or greater use. Additionally, cannabis use disorder—clinically significant impairment caused by the recurrent use of marijuana—is believed to be present in about 6 percent of surgical patients.
Managing Patient Concerns About Wearable Device Data
There has been a significant increase in the use of consumer-marketed, wearable technologies that measure and report physiological data. As a consequence, physicians have noticed patients are starting to bring this information to appointments expecting something to be done with it. Understanding a few basic principles will help when seeing such patients.
Within Normal Limits—A New Podcast by COPIC
COPIC has launched a podcast called Within Normal Limits: Navigating Medical Risks. Hosted by Eric Zacharias, MD, an internal medicine doctor and physician risk manager with COPIC, the podcast offers insights for physicians and medical providers on pitfalls to avoid and best practices to improve patient care. Each episode is around 20 minutes and focuses on conversations between Dr. Zacharias and other medical experts/physicians who provide practical guidance through detailed analysis and case study reviews.