Senior Care Risk: Environmental and Infrastructure Hazards

Susan Lucot, MSN, RN, MLT (ASCP), CPHRM

Environmental safety is of paramount importance in senior care facilities because of the vulnerable nature of resident populations. Advancing age and medical conditions might make individuals more likely to trip, fall, get trapped or entangled in furniture, burn themselves, and so on.

Senior Care Risk: Inadequate Staff Safety Measures

Susan Lucot, MSN, RN, MLT (ASCP), CPHRM

Much like workers in other high-risk industries — such as mining, construction, and transportation — staff working in senior care organizations need to incorporate safety measures while providing care, especially when working with residents who have behavioral health disorders and/or dementia. Yet, various commonplace practices can jeopardize safety, such as:

15 Strategies for Tackling Surgical Treatment Risks in Gynecology

Laura M. Cascella, MA, CPHRM

Analysis of MedPro claims data reveals that allegations related to surgical treatment represent the highest malpractice case volume for gynecology providers. These allegations also account for more than half of all dollars paid for expense and indemnity costs associated with gynecology claims.¹

Maintaining Professional Boundaries in Physical Therapy

Laura M. Cascella, MA, CPHRM

Maintaining professional boundaries is essential in healthcare. When boundaries are crossed — or the patient perceives they are crossed — the provider–patient relationship can quickly deteriorate. As a result, the provider may face allegations of misconduct and/or malpractice.

Strategies to Help Clinicians Confront Implicit Bias

Laura M. Cascella, MA, CPHRM

Efforts to reduce bias in healthcare have received increasing attention in recent years as the industry confronts issues related to health equity, health disparities, inclusivity, and fairness. Bias is recognized as a significant barrier to achieving equitable and culturally competent care; yet, identifying and remediating this problem is complex.

Improving Complaint Management in Dental Practices

Customer complaints are common in every service industry, including healthcare. Yet, because of the nature of the services provided in healthcare and their impact on peoples’ well-being, managing complaints effectively is essential for ensuring patient satisfaction and reducing liability exposure.

Creating an Inclusive Culture for Patients Who Have Disabilities

Laura M. Cascella, MA, CPHRM

Providing inclusive and culturally competent care is an essential strategy for engaging patients, improving adherence to treatment, and helping address issues related to bias and health disparities. Discussions about culturally competent care often focus on individuals who are racial or ethnic minorities or who identify with the LGBTQ+ community. Yet, another special and diverse population often is overlooked — people who have disabilities.

Risk Management Strategies for Opioid Prescribing

Laura M. Cascella, MA, CPHRM

Opioid addiction is arguably one of the most significant public health crises in the United States over the past few decades. Increases in opioid prescribing and consumption in the late 1990s and first decade of the 2000s fueled an epidemic of overdoses, a national heroin crisis, and a rise in deaths from synthetic opioids.¹