While their main focus is on aiding people in need of treatment, doctors are often, and sometimes unnecessarily, the targets of malpractice lawsuits. Prevention is worth a pound of cure, but what may seem simple in theory can be difficult to execute without the proper risk prevention tools in place. Accidents and mistakes are a part of life, but they can become costly for medical professionals, even ruining their careers, or at least their reputations. Doctors malpractice insurance is often vital to protecting practitioners who come under fire.

 

There are plenty of excuses for mistakes made during examinations or surgical procedures; a patients chart erroneously marked by the nurse, surgical instruments improperly cleaned, even the wrong medication being prescribed. Even the best doctors can make a mistake, or be given inaccurate information, which could have serious consequences. But in order to maintain the best malpractice claim prevention, there is a need for certain measures to be taken to reduce the chance for error. All the training in the world alone may not prevent that one accident which results in a lawsuit.

 

Review the practices’ standards and procedures

 

One suggestion is to hire a third-party firm to examine potential weak spots in care, service, equipment, and management, all areas that could potentially lead to a lawsuit. Patient feedback can be a very useful tool that can help doctors identify, from the patients’ perspective, where changes could benefit all concerned parties.

 

Update safety and training protocols

 

A well-trained staff is an important part of risk prevention. While every staff member can benefit from having his or her own med mal coverage, any lawsuit will likely name the physician who owns the practice, no matter where the fault lies. Education on proper procedures and standards of practice, and training in risk management procedures can only work to improve existing conditions, and lessen the likelihood of some accidents occurring.

 

Physicians must find ways to prevent claims before they start, and can easily do so by having a sound risk management strategy. Every small claim can be construed as a small mistake and a big learning experience, but unchecked they can also be considered an inroad to even larger problems. Identifying the causes of these small incidences can lead to improved risk prevention, and when a liability issue does blossom into a legal confrontation, having doctors malpractice insurance will help with the court costs and any settlement awards.