Laura M. Cascella, MA Natural disasters, although devastating, offer opportunities to examine various aspects of disaster planning, preparedness, and response — including those related to healthcare. Specifically, several major disasters over the past decade have provided a glimpse of the many ways in which electronic health records (EHRs) are capable of transforming disaster recovery efforts

Laura M. Cascella, MA Environmental emergencies can occur at any time and any place, and they can have widespread consequences for individuals, businesses, and communities. Natural disasters, severe weather, industrial accidents, chemical and oil spills, and unintentional radiation exposure are all examples of potential environmental emergencies. History has shown society’s vulnerability to a myriad of

MedPro Group Patient Safety & Risk Solutions More than ever, people are using portable electronic devices (such as laptops, cell phones, tablets, e-readers, and other “smart” devices) as part of everyday life. This trend will no doubt continue to grow as a result of technological advances and consumer demand. Although these devices can be entertaining

Laura M. Cascella, MA A look at MedPro claims data for otolaryngology (ENT) shows that allegations related to diagnosis are not as prevalent as allegations involving surgical treatment. However, claims involving diagnosis-related allegations can be significant in terms of poor patient outcomes. These claims often involve cancer, and most of the allegations are related to

In 1899, Dr. A.P. Buchman, a practicing physician in Fort Wayne, Indiana, helped father a law through the state legislature making possible the organization of insurance companies to cover malpractice hazards. Out of this legislation was born the creation of medical malpractice insurance, and with it, the company that is known today as MedPro Group. Over 100

“Social media” is simply a broad umbrella term that covers a wide range of electronic communication tools, such as email, social networking websites, blogs, video sharing and conferencing tools, mobile applications, and more. The growth and usage of social media continue to influence not only the American public, but the world at large. Estimates suggest

By Laura M. Cascella, MA Improving communication among healthcare providers is a topic that, without doubt, is familiar to most physicians and dentists. Although this concept may seem to receive a disproportionate amount of emphasis, research continues to show that poor communication contributes to many medical errors and is “a top reason for team mishaps

Med Pro Group Patient Safety & Risk Solutions Are you and those associated with your practice committed to the concept of quality of care? If so, then you already know that communication is the foundation for all of the interactions that promote patient safety, staff cooperation, and business excellence. What steps do you take to

The Medical Protective Company Most healthcare providers know that a patient's signature on an informed consent document may not automatically make the consent valid. The same is true of informed refusal. Both of these concepts rely on ethical and legal guidelines that acknowledge the right of competent adults to determine the course of their health

By Laura M. Cascella, MA If you’ve ever heard someone use the phrase, “it was a judgment call,” you probably assumed that the person made a decision based on the best available information. That is, the person assessed the situation, considered relevant data, and came to a conclusion based on factual information and his or