5 Ways Medical Providers Can Avoid Lawsuits

Working as a medical provider can be a rewarding experience for those who have what it takes. In order to be an effective worker in healthcare, you must have a strong work ethic, compassion, and a desire to help others. For most medical providers, they must also have grit and determination to overcome the increasingly litigious society of this country. Worrying about getting sued for medical malpractice can make this line of work stressful. Here are five ways you can work better in your field and avoid potential lawsuits.

1. Form Strong Relationships With Patients

First, you must aim to build strong relationships with your patients. Doctors and nurses who have a core set of long-term patients may end up having stronger working relationships with these individuals. When you invest in a long-term, friendly working relationship with your patient, you can get much more out of each visit. Your patient may have a greater respect for you and trust your opinion above all. Additionally, patients who have a friendly connection to their doctors often stay with the same provider for a longer period of time.

2. Update Your Knowledge

Another strategy to help avoid lawsuits or other legal problems at the workplace is to focus on updating your knowledge in the field. Going to industry conferences and workshops can help medical providers gain more understanding of different aspects of healthcare. Some providers may want to go back to school and earn additional credentials in their specialty or field. Another option is to pursue advanced study in health administration. USC offers a fully online MHA program that gives full-time workers some flexibility.

3. Understand Documentation Requirements

Doctors, nurses, and other medical providers must also have a strong understanding of all of the required documentation for their practice’s records. Patients are required to fill out forms that protect their privacy and their medical history. All patients have a set of specific legal rights, and providers should know the details about those rights so they aren’t violated. Here is an infographic about healthcare administration that discusses some of the important documentation and issues in practice.

4. Improve Communication

Next, medical care providers and other staff members in healthcare must strive to do better with their communication to patients. That may mean making yourself available to patients via email or some sort of phone messaging service. This can help your patients feel like you’re more accessible and prevent future problems that sometimes escalate to malpractice legal action.

5. Follow Standard Procedures

Lastly, it’s important for medical providers to always follow recommended guidelines and procedures when delivering care to patients. All medications prescribed must be standard label uses for treatments. Additionally, any type of diagnoses, surgical procedures, or other specific treatments must be completed using the training and procedures dictated by national groups of medical providers or the specialty field that the physician or nurse is part of.

Avoiding a malpractice lawsuit may be possible if you follow a few pieces of advice. If you follow these tips, you can start to worry less about being sued and focus more on providing excellent service and care to your patients.