February 2005

New graduates can't ignore risk management

by Timothy Feuling

When chiropractic students graduate and begin the task of obtaining a license and setting up practice, they face dozens of decisions and tasks. Where should they practice? Should it be a private practice or an associateship? How should they finance the new office equipment? Should they lease or buy? Who should they hire and how should they train their new staff?

It can all be somewhat overwhelming, but possibly the most important task is to make sure their career doesn't come to an abrupt halt because of a lawsuit. Setting up proper risk management procedures in the office ‑‑ even before new doctors open their doors for the first day ‑‑ is critical. They need to review all available information on proper recordkeeping and make sure they are thoroughly familiar with the regulations of their state boards. In addition, they need to be familiar with recently passed HIPAA patient‑privacy rules.

Of course, all DCs have to know about risk management procedures, but it is particularly critical for new doctors since they are more vulnerable to lawsuits and board complaints.

There are several reasons for this problem, which is faced by most health care professionals, including medical doctors.

First, many patients don't have as much confidence in a new, "inexperienced" doctor. They're told again and again through advertising that experience means "superior care." Have you ever seen an ad for a health practice that read "well‑trained and inexperienced doctors?"

They hear the same story from the medical press. The British Medical Journal notes that hospital patients with inexperienced doctors are at greatest risk of medical errors. A survey published in the American Medical News found that among physicians ages 50 to 65, 64% think younger doctors are "less dedicated and hardworking" than older doctors. If their own colleagues think that, what does the average patient think?

Patients who have concerns about the ability of their doctors are more apt to look for problems and worry about the quality of care they received.

Then, too, some younger doctors have not yet developed the patient education skills needed to help patients understand what chiropractic is and what they should expect from it. This can result in the one of the most common causes of malpractice lawsuits: miscommunication.

There's another reason why younger, newer doctors are at a greater risk for malpractice claims ‑‑ they can be targeted by unscrupulous patients and attorneys who know they are less likely to be able to mount a successful defense.

A good place to start a review of risk management information is at the CBS Report site (www.cbsmalpractice.com/report). Articles in the archives cover a vast array of topics, from recordkeeping to sexual harassment.

By developing good risk management procedures before beginning practice, doctors can help minimize the chances of being sued or having a patient file a board complaint. No amount of planning and care, however, can provide 100% safety. DCs still need a good professional liability policy to protect them if they are sued. Compare all available policies and companies and choose the one that's right for you.

(Timothy J. Feuling is president of Chiropractic Benefit Services (CBS) and a member of the Board of Directors of the World Chiropractic Alliance. He assists doctors in maximizing their practices through the proper choice of insurance and related services. Doctors may contact him with questions, comments, and requests for insurance quotes at 2950 N. Dobson Rd. Ste. 1, Chandler, AZ 85224, by phone at 800‑883‑0412 or by e‑mail: feuling@cbsmalpractice.com).