Practicing Medicine in Difficult Times: Protecting Physicians from Malpractice Litigation Review
Posted by
Michelle McGhee
on 7/19/2012
/
Labels:
doctor,
malpractice,
malpractice lawsuit,
malpractice prevention,
medicine,
patient safety
Average Reviews:
(More customer reviews)I have not come across many books out there that are more relevant to the current climate of medical malpractice and the plight of the 21st century physician than Practicing Medicine in Difficult Times. The book is very well structured and from the opening chapter, it makes a very strong case for why we must address the growing problem of malpractice litigation; as the first chapter cites: "62% of medical residents reported that liability issues were their top concern -surpassing all other concerns and representing an enormous increase from 2001 when only 15% of residents said liability was there top concern".
While the chapters are very well referenced and do contain a lot of statistics and evidence from the medical literature, they also blend in clinical vignettes which really make the points become apparent and helped (at least for me) give a tangible feel to the risk management and patient safety strategies that were being examined.
In the third chapter, the authors take a look at the development of the physician through their education and training and we begin to see how they are really not well prepared for the organizational aspects of running a medical practice and how the stage is set for error when there is a lack of knowledge of risk management strategies and procedures. One really comes away appreciating that risk management is not something apart from being a physician, but rather, that all good physicians are good risk managers.
In the following chapters such as Chapter 7's: Things You Didn't Learn In Medical School, the author provides a rich repertoire of real nuts and bolts techniques such as tracking systems and the handling of reports which physicians can readily take home and apply to their practice to make them safer for their patients.
The book not only looks at the organizational aspects of patient safety but also addresses the humanistic elements. For example, in chapter 11: Apology and Forgiveness, and Chapter 14: The Emotional Impact of Medical Error, I was enlightened and deeply moved by the authors exploration into the healing benefits to both physician and patient of "The Arc of Apology and Forgiveness". And I really gained an appreciation for what a medical error means from a patient's/family's perspective. The author recounts several real physician experiences and offers compelling analysis into their impact and then provides the reader with evidence-based approaches that the physician can use to help heal patients and themselves when a medical error occurs.
Overall, I would highly recommend this book to all physicians interested in water-proofing their practices against medical error and litigation, and I think Practicing Medicine in Difficult Times should be required reading for anyone seriously interested in medical malpractice and patient safety.
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There are multiple approaches within the reach of the physician which will increase the satisfaction of both the physician and the patient, and will also prevent lawsuits. Practicing Medicine in Difficult Times: Protecting Physicians from Malpractice Litigation focuses on protecting physicians from medical malpractice litigation. This essential resource includes multiple strategies physicians can employ to protect themselves from lawsuits which will positively impact the physician/patient relationship by enriching it and ultimately keeping patients safer. Each chapter includes case studies and real-life examples from risk management experts, experienced physicians and attorneys who defend physicians involved in medical malpractice cases. This is a valuable reference for physicians of all levels and specialties.
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