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Ten Tips to Reduce Liability in a Hospital Setting

1. Identify a primary contact person who has accountability for risk management activities.
2. Develop a Risk Management Plan which will identify opportunities to modify risk in the hospital organization, and set forth lines of communication between the Risk Manager, Administration, the Board of Directors, and all other departments.
3. Identify ways to protect risk management activities and documentation from discovery.

Patient Confidentiality

4. Understand the legal requirements for patient confidentiality and release of patient information, and assure appropriate policies and procedures are in place.

Credentialing and Privileging

5. Maintain a comprehensive process for credentialing and privileging licensed practitioners within your organization.

Safety and Security

6. Coordinate Risk Management activities with those of the Safety and Security Departments to reduce the risk of patient, employee and visitor injury.
7. If your organization has leased off-premises operations know the security arrangements of the landlord.
8. If you have home health or patient transportation operations, check the driving and criminal record of all employees or individuals contracted to perform these services.

Contract Review

9. Develop a procedure which requires all contracts be reviewed either by your Risk Management Department or legal counsel or both.
10. Understand the different types of "hold harmless" clauses which can be found in various contracts and determine whether your carrier will cover certain indemnification agreements.

Call MICA Risk Management for personalized assistance for your hospital.

Risk Management Services Available for Individual Hospitals and Integrated Delivery Systems

• Department Inservices
• Formal Education Programs
• Mock Trials
• General Topics Or Specialty Specific
• For System Employees
• For Members Of The Medical Staff
• Telephone Hot Line
• High Risk Department Audits
• Obstetrics
• Surgical Services
• Radiology
• Emergency Services
• Ancillary Risk Assessments
• Home Health Care
• Durable Medical Equipment
• Physician/Clinic Audits
• PHO/MCO Audits
• Policy/Procedure Reviews
• Monthly Publications

These services are provided to MICA Insureds at no cost. Risk Management consulting services can also be arranged for non-members. To contact MICA please call 602-956-5276 or 1-800-352-0402.