Risk Management

Get strategies for avoiding malpractice claims and board allegations by accessing our extensive library of articles and posts. NCMIC D.C.s can get even more by logging in and browsing our Examiner archives ... including real-life case studies, articles and Q & As about potential claim situations.

Categories

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  ARTICLES & VIDEOS Documentation Mistakes in your records can put your practice at risk.
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  ARTICLES & VIDEOS Operational & Staff Risks Employee and office matters reflect on you and your practice.
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  ARTICLES & VIDEOS Malpractice Defense Considerations when a patient files a lawsuit or is considering one.
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  ARTICLES & VIDEOS Professional Boundaries Reduce the risk that your good intentions will be misconstrued.
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  ARTICLES & VIDEOS Case Studies Read real-life situations and learn from the experiences of others.
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  ARTICLES & VIDEOS Clinical Risks Assess and treat the patient for their treatment and care needs.
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  ARTICLES & VIDEOS Social & Electronic Media Factors to be aware of with popular communication methods.
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  12

  ARTICLES & VIDEOS Board & Regulatory Ways to avoid licensing board and regulatory agency issues.
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  32

  ARTICLES & VIDEOS Patient Interactions Essentials to keep in mind when interacting with patients.
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  7

  ARTICLES & VIDEOS Continuing Education Get CEs and valuable information through NCMIC's many offerings.

Recent Articles

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  Should I Pay for a Patient's Emergency Care?

  Question: A patient of mine went to the emergency room over the weekend with back spasms and has now requested that I pay for the charges. He contends my treatment made his condition worse. Should I pay for the cost of the emergency room care?

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  POSTED IN Operational & Staff Risks
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  Dealing With Nonverbal Communication

  QUESTION: I was recently treating a patient who rolled his eyes as he agreed to proceed with my recommended chiropractic treatment plan. Normally I can tell what a patient wants to do, but I wondered if I should have addressed his nonverbal message specifically.

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  POSTED IN Patient Interactions
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  Poor Recordkeeping Results in Indefensible Lawsuit and Board Action

  Michelle Towers, age 47, was suffering from low back pain and numbness that radiated down her left leg when she presented to Jack Drayton, DC, at Elk Mountain Chiropractic Clinic on April 17, 2008. She had a history of low back pain dating back to a fall 35 years earlier. However, her symptoms were aggravated when she lifted a heavy box of paper.

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  POSTED IN Case Studies
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  Before Responding to a Negative Comment …

  As human beings, it's our natural tendency to want to defend ourselves against unwarranted criticism. However, as healthcare providers under the purview of HIPAA, Doctors of Chiropractic need to guard against that tendency when it comes to responding to negative complaints from patients.

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  POSTED IN Social & Electronic Media
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  Social Media Policy Considerations for DCs

  Social media sites such as Facebook, YouTube and LinkedIn are becoming more popular with DCs. But how do you avoid violating HIPAA or privacy regulations as you increase your social media presence?

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  POSTED IN Social & Electronic Media
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  Working successfully with a challenging patient

  When one of your difficult patients is scheduled for a visit, it may make you feel anxious, or even resentful. This, in turn, may affect your compassion and empathy toward them. If your last encounter was challenging, you may put up an invisible wall that starts the new visit off on a wrong foot.

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  POSTED IN Patient Interactions
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  Front Office Protocols are as Important as what Happens in the Exam Room

  Front desk personnel are often the first point of contact for patients, family members and caregivers within a practice. Even simple errors can have a negative impact on patient well-being and leave you open to risk.

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  POSTED IN Patient Interactions
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  When the patient throws a curve ball

  They've come to see you about one thing, and just before you leave the room you hear, "Oh, by the way, doctor..."

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  POSTED IN Documentation
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  Informed Refusal is as Important as Informed Consent

  The informed consent discussion gives a doctor the unique opportunity to build rapport and trust with patients. It is a thorough discussion that enables the doctor to educate the patient on the recommended treatment.

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  POSTED IN Documentation
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  Maintaining Boundaries with Social Media

  It may seem like a good idea to be active on social media, but what innocuous information might be misconstrued based on what you post? What snap judgments could be made about your personal or professional life?

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  POSTED IN Social & Electronic Media