Liability Claims Data Provide Guidance on How to Protect Your Practice

How can you best protect yourself from medical liability claims? A session at APA’s 2023 Annual Meeting, presented by the APA-endorsed professional liability insurance company, will give you a number of useful tips.

Allison Funicelli, M.P.A., C.C.L.A., A.R.M., a risk management consultant in the Risk Management Group of AWAC Services Company, a member company of Allied World, and Nicole Paquette, Esq., senior claims analyst, will co-chair the session “Risky Business? An Analysis of Recent Medical Malpractice Claim Trends and Risk Mitigation Strategies.”

The presenters will analyze medical claims data to help participants develop a risk management plan to reduce patient injury while preparing for a sound defense in anticipation of litigation or licensing board complaints. Reducing risk can assist with improving patient safety and reduce the likelihood of facing a medical malpractice claim or licensing board complaint.

The presentation will cover medical, hospital, and psychiatric malpractice claims statistics including claim severity, claim frequency, types of allegations, difficult litigation venues, settlement values, and claim resolution. The required elements for a plaintiff to bring a malpractice claim will also be discussed. Participants will learn multiple techniques for reducing risk in an office practice or health care facility and gain an understanding about why patients assert malpractice claims.

Participants will also learn about a recent court decision regarding a failure to disclose metadata related to an electronic health record.

If you have questions about the session, please contact [email protected]. ■