Publications & Resources

Get insights and guidance from MLMIC and other leading sources on medical professional liability, risk management, and more.

Tag: communicating with patients

Reducing the Demands of Patient Portal Messages

New research is examining strategies for primary care physicians to best manage new stressors associated with increased use of patient messaging portals.

Major Chronic Health Issues Predict Elevated Mortality Rates for Millennials

A new BCBS study found that millennials are experiencing higher rates of chronic health issues than previous generations. Projections indicate that this may increase both mortality rates and healthcare costs.

How to Differentiate Vaping-Related Lung Injury From Influenza or Respiratory Infections

New CDC recommendations can help physicians differentiate between vaping-related lung injury and influenza or respiratory infection.

Using the Teach-Back Method to Improve Patient Understanding of Instructions

The teach-back method can help physicians ensure that patients have a clear understanding of post-visit instructions.

During Morning Hours, Physicians More Likely to Recommend Cancer Screenings

A new study shows that as the day progresses, physicians are more likely to defer discussion of cancer screening, and these findings indicate that “this could potentially result in suboptimal care.”

A Close Look at Million Dollar Medical Liability Claims in New York State

MLMIC’s Million Dollar Claims report presents an analysis of claims that closed during 2013 through 2017 and resulted in payments of $1 million or more. The goal was to determine the issues and commonalities of those losses in order to proactively mitigate high-exposure risks for our insureds.

Benefits of Encouraging Patients to Speak Up About Their Care

After gathering data from 10,000 patients researchers found that 48.6% of patients experienced a problem, and over 30% of those “did not always feel comfortable speaking up.” The study has implications for overall patient safety and satisfaction.

Shared Decision-Making Improves Patient Satisfaction

Researchers have found that study participants exposed to shared decision-making reported “higher trust, rated their physicians more highly and were less likely to fault their physicians for the adverse outcome compared with those exposed to no decision-making.”

Reducing Readmissions: Strategies for Hospitals

The readmission reduction efforts outlined by Becker’s not only improve patient care but also make sense as part of a hospital’s proactive risk management strategy.

Computers in Exam Rooms May Hinder Effective Communication

Computers in patient exam rooms have become commonplace in healthcare, but they may be perceived by both physicians and patients as a barrier to effective communication.