Three in 10 physicians said they have been a defendant in a lawsuit, and four in 10 said they've been threatened with legal action regarding their care, according to Physicians Practice's 2014 Great American Physician Survey.
In addition to providing excellent clinical care to reduce the risk of medical errors, physicians can follow nonclinical strategies to help abate their malpractice risk. Consider the following two strategies from Physicians Practice.
1. Establish strong communication between physicians and patients. According to Physicians Practice, when patients feel comfortable communicating with their physicians, they are more likely to disclose all relevant medical information, which could help prevent misdiagnoses or medical errors.
According to Physicians Practice, Jeffrey D. Brunken, president of physician insurer MGIS, said good communication between physicians and their patients improves relationships, which reduces the likelihood that a patient will sue in the event of an error.
Mr. Brunken outlined several communication strategies for physicians when interacting with their patients, such as:
- Don't dismiss the patient's concerns.
- Listen carefully.
- Set realistic expectations.
- Provide clear answers.
2. Prioritize customer service among all staff. Staff members' interactions with patients are a critical aspect of the patient experience. Poor patient satisfaction due to subpar customer service can increase the likelihood of a lawsuit, according to the report.
To ensure all staff members are contributing to providing a positive patient experience, Physicians Practice suggests:
- Remind staff to demonstrate professional etiquette.
- Reduce patient frustration by providing updates and explanations to patients regarding long wait times.
- Prepare staff to handle difficult patient encounters appropriately with training.
Ask staff to be observant of patient reactions and emotions as they leave appointments, and check on patients who seem upset.