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THIS WEEK'S EDITION:
- Teaching how to say sorry/shift in Sorry Works! presentations
- Joint Commission Resources Meeting on Disclosure in June
- Positive editorial from Nevada
- Sorry Works! audio conference - reminder!
- Great article - check it out!
TEACHING HOW TO SAY SORRY/SHIFT IN SORRY WORKS! PRESENTATIONS
Over the last year Sorry Works! has made countless presentations to medical, legal, and insurance organizations across the United States and in Australia (in May we make our second venture out of the United States when we speak before the Canadian Ombudsman Association).
The focus of these presentations has mostly been promoting the benefits of disclosure and apology programs. Shortly before Christmas, Sorry Works! spokesperson Doug Wojcieszak spoke at Texas Tech Medical School and after the presentation a professor commented that the speech made a convincing case for disclosure, but doctors also need to hear how to actually say "sorry." Docs and other medical professionals are never taught how to actually apologize and share information with patients and families. Point well taken.
The Sorry Works! presentation has been re-tooled and new information incorporated to teach medical and insurance professionals how to apologize to patients and families after adverse events. Wojcieszak got a chance to try it out at three recent presenations in Las Vegas , in Oklahoma with PLICO insured physicians, and at the Missouri Patient Safety Conference. The new information was well-received, especially by the doctors! Several physicians commented they appreciated learning how to apologize and better communicate after adverse events and looked forward to incorporating the strategies into their practices. A few other physicians said that they had done what was recommended in the presentation and had not gotten sued during their careers - even though they had made some mistakes and errors!
We're really starting to open eyes. If you are interested in a Sorry Works! speaker for CME/CEU accredited events, please contact doug@sorryworks.net or call 618-559-8168. Thank you!
JOINT COMMISSION RESOURCES MEETING ON DISCLOSURE IN JUNE
Joint Commission Resources is holding a two-day conference on disclosure with many of the nation's leaders on the topic, including several Sorry Works! board members. This will be a fantastic meeting. Dr. Michael Woods, Dr. Albert Wu, Dr. Steve Kraman, Dr. Lucian Leape, Rick Boothman (from Univ. of Michigan), Linda Kenney, Marty Hatlie, Dr. Rich Quinn of COPIC, Doug Wojcieszak, and many others will be there.
For more information, please paste this link into your browser: http://www.jcrinc.com/23681/
POSITIVE EDITORIAL FROM NEVADA
EDITORIAL: Making it easier to say 'I'm sorry'
Bill would re-open communication between doctors, patients
Mar. 17, 2007
Las Vegas Review-Journal
Since voters approved medical malpractice reforms in 2004, physicians' insurance premiums have stabilized, easing a burgeoning health care crisis. And not only are doctors no longer fleeing Nevada for less-litigious environs, Nevada State Medical Association Executive Director Larry Mathias says the state is actually attracting needed physicians from all over the country.
This relief, however, hasn't made doctor-patient relationships any less toxic. Physicians still have to practice defensive medicine, ordering all manner of tests to eliminate the chance of a misdiagnosis. If a physician gets the slightest hint that a patient wants to file a lawsuit, he'll be the first one to "lawyer up."
In the event that a mistake was made in treatment, a doctor certainly won't make the mistake of apologizing.
"You're taught in schooling to keep your mouth shut," says state Sen. Joe Heck, R-Henderson, a physician by trade. "If you say, 'I'm sorry,' you might as well write the check. During a deposition, the first words out of plaintiff's attorney's mouth will be, 'You admitted to my client that you made a mistake?'"
The constant threat of litigation has the effect of chilling communication between doctor and patient. Patients who don't get answers to their questions, or who feel their physician is being rude or cold, get angry. And angry patients tend to hire lawyers-- and sue.
So Sen. Heck has submitted Senate Bill 174, which would allow doctors and other health care workers to apologize or offer sympathy in the event of wrongdoing without having the statement used against them in court.
A doctor could say, "I'm sorry," and the patient wouldn't lose the right to bring legal action.
Twenty-nine states have enacted laws that exempt apologies and expressions of sympathy as proof of liability. And in removing the gags from their doctors, many of these states have seen another benefit: an actual reduction in the number of malpractice lawsuits filed against health care providers.
Senate Bill 174 would go a long way toward restoring a measure of good will to health care. And trial lawyers have no specific objections to the proposal (aside from costing them clients).
The Nevada Legislature should pass Senate Bill 174.
REMINDER - SECOND SORRY WORKS! AUDIO CONFERENCE ON MAY 9TH - REGISTER NOW!
The Second Sorry Works! audio conference is fast approaching, and we hope you will be joining us to listen to our featured speakers Drs. Aaron Lazare and John Banja on May 9th. This is sure to be a great conference - call 517-886-8226 or paste this link into your browser: http://www.sorryworks.net/conference1.phtml to register today. Thank you!
GREAT ARTICLE ON MEDICAL MALPRACTICE
Every so often our friends and supporters send us some fantastic articles that we like to pass onto you, our readers. Paste this link into your browser - http://nymag.com/news/features/28898/ - and read this very interesting article which dissects a medical malpractice lawsuit. The article is from a recent New York Magazine, and as you read it we challenge you to think about how Sorry Works! could have helped all of the players in this story. Have a great weekend!
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