Target Audience:

Physicians interested in risk management, in addition to: legal alternatives, patient safety, documentation safeguards in medical malpractice claims, expert testimony, current developments in the transition to electronic health records and updates and additions to the list of preventable serious adverse events.

Educational Objectives:

Upon completing this learning activity, each learner should be able to:

• Identifiy the differences between arbitration, mediation, early neutral evaluation, and summary jury trials.
• Understand the major qualifications necessary for someone to be considered an expert for the defense in a medical malpractice case.
• Outline the vital elements that should be included on a medical record that correctly document a patient’s care and may aid in avoiding a malpractice claim.
• Decipher between a preventable serious detrimental event and a sentinel event.
• Explore the benefits of time-outs in the operating room and the use of checklists in preventing the "three wrongs" of surgical procedures.