OMA-CNA Risk Management Program Materials
Risk Management is an integral part of the OMA-CNA program. One of the ways the OMA and CNA provide risk management support to healthcare providers is via toolkits, newsletters, and bulletins that assist our clients in improving patient safety and thus reducing risk. A sampling of the resources available to you is provided below.
Malpractice Lawsuit Preparation
This document providers information on what to do to prepare for a malpractice lawsuit, should one arise.
Steps to Reporting a Claim
Communication lapses may occur when patient information is transferred from one provider to another and between teams and physical locations. This document provides suggestions to improve handoff communication and includes a tool to evaluate handoff procedures in healthcare settings.
Handoff Communication
Communication lapses may occur when patient information is transferred from one provider to another and between teams and physical locations. This document provides suggestions to improve handoff communication and includes a tool to evaluate handoff procedures in healthcare settings.
Recording of Practitioner Visits
Patients have access to smartphones capable of recording office visits, clinical examinations, and telephone calls with their healthcare practitioner. Patient recordings may have liability implications and potentially undermine patient-practitioner trust. This white paper provides guidelines for developing a written policy to address recording of practitioner visits.
Informed Consent
This article describes the informed consent process and provides strategies for noncompliant patients and the informed refusal process.
Online and Mobile Communications
This article provides guidelines for appropriate use of email and text message communication with patients.
Medical Error Disclosure
This article offers basic guidelines to help physician practices create sound policies governing the admission of error.
Disclosure After an Adverse Event
This document provides guidelines to providers who may engage in a disclosure conversation with a patient/family who have experienced an adverse event. It provides strategies regarding who should participate in the meeting, what information should be shared with the patient/family and examples of statements of empathy to be used when talking with the patient/family.
Pitfalls of the Electronic Health Record (EHR)
This document provides tips to reduce risk when using an EHR.
EHR Self Assessment Tool
This document provides guidelines to providers who may engage in a disclosure conversation with a patient/family who have experienced an adverse event. It provides strategies regarding who should participate in the meeting, what information should be shared with the patient/family and examples of statements of empathy to be used when talking with the patient/family.
Continuity of Care
This article offers a self-assessment tool designed to help practices improve continuity of care and reduce liability exposure by ensuring that critical information is properly gathered, processed, shared and documented.
Treatment Follow-through
Patient adherence to a prescribed plan of care—including follow-up visits, specialist referrals, laboratory and imaging diagnostic tests, and self-care—is fundamental to patient safety, optimal treatment outcomes and management of risk. This article focuses on systematic sources of incomplete follow-through, offering strategies to enhance patient access, customer service, and coordination of care.
Prescribing Controlled Substances
Pain management has become an area of increased focus for healthcare professionals as pain is one of the most common reasons that patients seek medical care. The following recommendations, in concert with the basic principles of sound professional practice, are intended to assist you in rendering quality patient care while minimizing the risks surrounding the prescribing of controlled substances for intractable pain.
Clinical Use of Smartphones Tips on Mitigating Ten Major Risks
Smartphones have become an important tool for today’s healthcare professional. The near-universal use of personal mobile devices by providers and staff has significantly enhanced efficiency and productivity. However, leadership must be aware of the safety and liability implications of these communication tools. This bulletin examines 10 of the most common and potentially serious risks associated with the use of personal mobile devices in the healthcare setting, and officer suggestions designed to mitigate these exposures