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October 20, 2008 NEWSLETTER
Doug Wojcieszak, Founder & Spokesperson
Contact phone/e-mail address: 618-559-8168; doug@sorryworks.net
THIS WEEK'S EDITION:
OCTOBER 20 NEWSLETTER
Doug Wojcieszak, Founder & Spokesperson
Contact phone/e-mail address: 618-559-8168; doug@sorryworks.net
IN THIS EDITION:
- SORRY WORKS! SPOTLIGHT: Disclosure Brochure from Texas Medical Liability Trust
- Sorry Works! presentations in Dallas, Chicago
- Sorry Works! Books for the Holidays
- HEC Forum Paper on Disclosure and Ethics
SORRY WORKS! SPOTLIGHT: DISCLOSURE BROCHURE FROM TEXAS MEDICAL LIABILITY TRUST
We at Sorry Works! strive to make you, our readers, aware of different disclosure resources. Add to the list a very nicely done brochure on disclosure and apology developed by the Texas Medical Liability Trust. To find the brochure paste this link - http://www.tmlt.org/publications/riskpubs/apology_tool- website.pdf - into your browser. We really like much of the language and focus of the brohcure....a very useful tool for providers.
We have only two suggestions for improving the brochure: 1) The brochure needs to emphasize the importance of providers working with their insurer and - if applicable - risk management at their hospital to develop a disclosure program. Disclosure cannot be ad hoc, and disclosure must be thought out well before any adverse event happens; 2) The brochure counsels against recording disclosure discussions, and provides all sorts of warnings about making sure providers are not secretly being taped by patients or families. If you're doing disclosure right in the auspices of a program, you should have no worries if the patient/family has a tape recorder, note pad, or even an attorney. You're an open book and not afraid of the truth - the truth is your friend whether you've made a mistake or not. On the other hand, not allowing or even discouraging a tape recorder or attorney will send signals to the patient/family that a disclosure meeting is not a legitimate or credible event.
SORRY WORKS! PRESENTATIONS IN DALLAS & CHICAGO
Sorry Works! Founder Doug Wojcieszak will be speaking twice this week: On Thursday to the ECRI Risk Management Forum in Chicago, and then on Saturday at the Sorry Works! seminar hosted by Pinnacle Partners which is open to medical professionals.
There is a nominal $30 registration for the Dallas conference which covers the cost of breakfast and a copy of the Sorry Works! Book for every participant. Registration information is below.
Not from Dallas? Well, the Dallas conference is on a Saturday, so make it a fall weekend in Dallas! The Dallas Cowboys are even in town this weekend!
If you are interested in hosting a Sorry Works! presentation at your hospital, medical practice, insurer, or law firm, simply contact doug@sorryworks.net or call 618-559-8168. Thank you!
Pinnacle Partners In Medicine Invites Doctors and CRNAs to Join Us for "Sorry Works!" Seminar
Disclosure of Unanticipated Outcomes and Medical Errors
Saturday, October 25, Omni Hotel Dallas, 7am-Noon
Learn more about this intriguing new customer service approach to patient care. The coalition believes and advocates that the medical malpractice crisis is a customer service crisis - not a legal problem - that can be solved anytime by medical, insurance, and legal professionals.
Price: $30 if you register prior to the event. Registration at the event begins at 7 AM. Full breakfast buffet will be provided.
CME credit will be available.
Register online: www.pinnaclepartnersmed.com/sorryworks
You may also call: 972-715-5003 or email: kmorse@pinnaclepartnersmed.com
SORRY WORKS! BOOKS FOR THE HOLIDAYS
Hard to believe it, but the Holidays are right around the corner. With a tight economy you'll need to find reasonably priced gifts for the healthcare, insurance, and legal professionals on your list. Enter the Sorry Works! Book. For the $23.50 per copy, you can provide the "how-to" manual on disclosure and apology. The book also includes a stylish bookmark with disclosure tips. Furthermore, bulk discounts are available for large orders.
You won't find a more meaningful gift or more appreciated gift for the price. To order individual copies visit this link: http://www.sorryworks.net/booksoon.phtml. To make a bulk purchase, e-mail doug@sorryworks.net or call 618-559-8168.
Happy Holidays!
HEC FORUM PAPER ON DISCLOSURE AND ETHICS
A couple weeks ago the HEC Forum published an invited paper on disclosure and ethics written by Sorry Works! authors Doug Wojcieszak, James Saxton, and Maggie Finkelstein. Below is an excerpt from the article, and here is the full title to find the article: Ethics Training Needs To Emphasize Disclosure and Apology, Sept 22, 2008. If you do not have a subscription to HEC but would like to purchase the article, follow this link: http://www.springerlink.com/content/k47012859h7w46g3/ .
Excerpt:
It is the often thought belief that patients and families want money and are eager to file a lawsuit against doctors and hospitals to obtain it. Data and our collective experience suggest otherwise. Most people do not want to sue physicians. However, your attorney- authors have defended countless cases where patients and families – the customers – were literally forced to file a medical malpractice lawsuit because the providers and hospital team shut off communication and severed relationships post-adverse event. This disconnection produces suspicions of cover-up among patients and families that quickly becomes anger which literally pushes patients to seek a trial lawyer. It is well known that one of the leading reasons patients go to lawyers is to obtain information about what happened after an adverse event. Yet, it is the doctor who is in the best position to help the patient at this time. We need to start educating patients that when an unexpected outcome occurs or complication that they seek out their doctor, not the lawyer. To make this work, it means that our doctors and staff need to be on- board with the disclosure concepts, including communication post- adverse event. The authors feel that a grass roots effort needs to take place to tell patients – return to your doctor; your doctor is there for you. It is about staying on the same side of the table and that takes two willing participants: the doctor and the patient.
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