Managerial Epidemiology
Chapter 11: Risk Management in Selected High-Risk Hospital Depts
High Risk Depts. in Hospitals
All clinical depts. in hospitals have potential for risk, but some are greater than others:
Emergency Room
Obstetrics and Neonatology
Surgery and Anesthesia
Diagnostic Imaging
Treat highly vulnerable patients in often chaotic settings where the results of errors can be catastrophic and costly
Emergency Medicine
Which Definition?
AMA – any condition clinically determined to require immediate medical care
Federal Legislation – condition manifested by acute symptoms of sufficient severity that the absence of immediate medical attention could reasonably be expected to result in serious jeopardy to an individual’s health, serious impairment to bodily functions or serious dysfunction of any body organ or part
Clinicians –view emergencies as life-threatening situations
The mere existence of an ER implies a duty to treat any patient who arrives
Emergency Medicine Issues
Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act (EMTALA)
Pre-hospital services
Dept Capabilities and Staffing
Triage Process
Emergency Medicine Issues
Medical Records Documentation and Consent
Support Services
Departures, Discharges and Transfers
Risk Management
Obstetrics and Neonatology
Lawsuits in this category are usually the most expensive
Advanced technology has improved survival rates for infants but led to increased risks for facilities
Ethical Dilemmas
Standards and Guidelines
Levels of Care
Level 1 – least intensive and designed to treat low-risk mothers and babies
Level 2 – must be able to manage high-risk mothers, high-risk fetuses and small, sick neonates
Level 3 – must be able to monitor and maintain critical functions of mothers and neonates the nurse to patient ratio is more intensive as well
Obstetrics and Neonatology
Obstetrics and Neonatology
Prenatal and Perinatal Care
Intrapartum Period
Delivery
Neonatal Resuscitation and Management
Maternal Exam Post Delivery
Family Attendance Issues
Obstetrics and Neonatology
Medical Record Documentation
Neonatal Services
Infant Transport
Infant Abduction
Surgery and Anesthesia
Surgery and Anesthesia claims are usually co-dependent
Increased number of surgeries performed in outpatient or ambulatory settings with decrease in number of claims
Paid malpractice claims are higher in the outpatient setting
Handout Case Study
10
Surgery and Anesthesia
Negligence and Malpractice
Surgical Services Staff
Preoperative Assessment and Treatment
Intraoperative Risks
Postoperative Recovery
Documentation
Handout Case Study
11
Surgery and Anesthesia
Intraoperative Risks
Sedation and Anesthesia
Wrong Site, Wrong Procedure, Wrong Person
Implants
Retained Foreign Bodies
Patient Burns and Pressure Injuries
Surgical Fires
Handout Case Study
12
Diagnostic Imaging
Creating images of the human body utilizing various methods:
X-rays
Computed tomography (CT)
Interventional radiography
Ultrasound
Magnetic resonance imagine (MRI)
Positron emission tomography
Diagnostic Imaging
Malpractice allegations
Failure to diagnose
Misdiagnosis
Wrong diagnosis
Errors
Scanning -- Satisfaction of search
Recognition -- Visual perception
Decision making -- Influential perception
Diagnostic Imaging
Radiation exposure: GOAL - as low as reasonably achievable
Decrease time of exposure
Increase distance of the patient and staff from radiation source
Use proper shielding
Summary
These high-risk areas in the hospital should be carefully reviewed for appropriate policies and procedures as well as compliance with them
Communication and good customer service with patients is key in these high-risk areas
Documentation is imperative in all areas but especially in high-risk departments which tend to have a higher likelihood of litigation