What are some tips to avoid or protect yourself from negligence claims?
Answer
1) Know and comply with state laws regarding your scope of practice. PTs are responsible for knowing and understanding the regulations governing the practice of physical therapy in each state where they practice, as well as the policies and protocols of their employers and the facilities where they provide services.
2) Contact the referring practitioner for clarification if referring protocol appears premature or beyond the patient’s abilities.
3) Be vigilant about protecting patients from the most common types of injuries.
4) Practice active listening skills and teach back to ensure that my patients understand directions and instructions.
5) Refrain from documenting subjective opinions or conclusions, as well as making any derogatory statement about patients or other providers in the record.
Jennifer L. Flynn, CPHRM
Jennifer Flynn, CPHRM, is Vice President and Risk Manager for Healthcare Providers Service Organization in the Healthcare Division of Aon’s Affinity Insurance Services, Inc. Specializing in risk management and having worked in the health care insurance business for over 21 years, Jennifer is dedicated to educating health care professionals on professional liability risks and offers strategies to mitigate those risks by supporting patient safety principles and developing quality management programs. In addition to being a frequent national speaker on healthcare risk and liability, Jennifer is also a published author on various risk management topics. Jennifer is a Certified Professional in Healthcare Risk Management and is a licensed Property & Casualty agent. She earned a BA in Psychology from Arcadia University in Glenside, Pennsylvania.
Related Courses
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HPSO and CNA’s liability claim report, Physical Therapy Liability Claim Report: 4th Edition, addresses top areas of physical therapy professionals’ most common professional liability concerns, including emerging risks and ways that PTs can protect themselves from liability exposures. Using case studies and claim data, PTs can examine top areas of liability through the experiences of your peers. Most importantly, this session provides you with immediately implementable practices that you can use to help prevent or defend against malpractice allegations, while also enhancing patient safety. This course is directly related to the practice of physical therapy and is therefore appropriate for the PT/PTA.
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3https://www.physicaltherapy.com/pt-ceus/course/alzheimer-s-and-other-dementias-4864Alzheimer's and Other Dementias: Overview for Healthcare ProfessionalsAn overview for healthcare professionals about Alzheimer’s disease and related disorders is provided in this course. Characteristics of the dementias, such as symptoms, progression, and how they are diagnosed, are described. Care planning strategies for improving communication with patients and families, understanding and managing behavioral challenges, and promoting independence are also discussed.auditory, textual, visual129USDSubscriptionUnlimited COURSE Access for $129/yearOnlineOnlyPhysicalTherapy.comwww.physicaltherapy.comAlzheimer's and Other Dementias: Overview for Healthcare ProfessionalsAn overview for healthcare professionals about Alzheimer’s disease and related disorders is provided in this course. Characteristics of the dementias, such as symptoms, progression, and how they are diagnosed, are described. Care planning strategies for improving communication with patients and families, understanding and managing behavioral challenges, and promoting independence are also discussed.4864OnlinePT60M
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Health Literacy is the ability to read, compute, understand and act on health information to make informed decisions. Low health literacy is a serious threat to the well-being of persons seeking medical care. With the increasing diversity of clients, we may observe that our communication skills are less effective with people from backgrounds different from our own. In this course, an overview of health literacy is provided. The session will review techniques for clear and effective communication, verbal and written communication with those from other cultures, writing and selecting easy-to-read health materials, and assessment tools to use to ensure that clients understand the therapy services provided and have the skills needed to access, understand, and use health information.
5https://www.physicaltherapy.com/pt-ceus/course/oasis-e-new-items-4612OASIS E: New ItemsThe course will focus on the items that are unique to the OASIS E data collection process. Official guidance sources will be explored to ensure the accuracy of the information.auditory, textual, visual129USDSubscriptionUnlimited COURSE Access for $129/yearOnlineOnlyPhysicalTherapy.comwww.physicaltherapy.comOASIS E: New ItemsThe course will focus on the items that are unique to the OASIS E data collection process. Official guidance sources will be explored to ensure the accuracy of the information.4612OnlinePT120M
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