OMA-CNA Risk Management Program for 2024

Here is a brief overview of the program and how you may keep improving your medical office and patient safety practices in the new year.

2024 Risk Training Sessions

The OMA and CNA are pleased to offer two Risk Management Training webinars on the practical know-how from physician and attorney faculty: one for clinicians and another for practice managers.  Helping our members remain a top priority. The upcoming training, "Communication Strategies for the Office Practice Clinician: Promoting Care Continuity and Minimizing Risk", can be applied towards your CNA premium credit. 

At the clinician training you will:

  • learn about national and Oregon-specific claim trends;
  • receive recommendations on how to improve clinical documentation and communication;
  • and be offered strategies to enhance patient safety in the office practice. 

The Risk Management Program is also offering a one-time webinar for practice managers to cover the NEW Risk Management Handbook.  This one-hour webinar will highlight new information and resources that will support the practice manager in development of practice policies and systems.

Ask us about CME: theoma@theoma.org 



March 5, 6:00pm |  Risk Management Training for Clinicians
Webinar

Learning Objectives:

  • Outline communication strategies that support patient safety and reduce exposure to professional liability claims.
  • Identify skills to improve the effectiveness of communication among the healthcare team which assists supporting patient care continuity.
  • Discuss techniques to aid clinicians in their role as educators and communicators.
  • Provide examples of risk exposure through case scenarios.
  • Review common documentation risks and demonstrate how they affect the defense of malpractice claims.
  • Examine emerging clinical practice risks.

 



 
March 13, 12:00pm | Practice Managers -  Risk Management Handbook
Webinar

Special webinar for practice managers covering the NEW Risk Management Handbook.  This one-hour webinar will highlight useful information to aide practice managers in development of practice policies and systems.




OMA Health & Safety Policies for In-Person Attendance

Education

In addition to practical training sessions, you have complimentary access to the annual risk publication series of both topical newsletters on issues important to medical offices as well as in-depth briefings on that take a deeper dive into relevant and timely risk management issues. The goals of the educational series are to provide tools and resources to foster best practices, enhance patient safety and minimize professional liability risk exposure for your entire office practice. Publications will be emailed regularly to you for your convenience.

Service

A unique component to the program is easy access to problem-solving risk and compliance information. If you have a question or need real-time support, the staff teams at the OMA and CNA are available to assist.

Team Access


CNA TEAM ACCESS

Any time you have a question about your insurance coverage, a potential claim, or if you get a letter from the medical board about a complaint, call your CNA team. Calling CNA does not raise your rates. You may reach the CNA team at 1-800-341-3684.

OMA TEAM ACCESS
Because you are a valued OMA member, you have access to the OMA’s Knowledge Center team who are ready to respond to the A to Z of health care compliance questions. You may reach the Knowledge Center team at OMA@theoma.org.


Additional Program Benefits


Topical Newsletters
OMA CNA members will continue to receive our topical newsletters delivered to your inbox with a timely update on a risk issue and tips for addressing that risk in your practice. Look for those during each quarter of the year.

 


Focused Briefings
A new addition this year will be the delivery to your inbox of focused briefings on risk issues that will include detailed coverage along with implementation steps for your practices. Look for those to come to your inbox as they become available.



Thank you for being part of the OMA/CNA Risk Management Program!

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