Apologies.....

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Apologies Gain Momentum

ISMP Medication Safety Alert. 2005;10(17) ©2005 Institute for Safe Medication Practices

Posted 09/21/2005

A decade ago, physicians were told, implicitly or explicitly, during their professional training to avoid making apologies to patients for medical errors because it could lead to problems if they are sued. Today, some healthcare executives, insurers, and physicians are changing this mindset and fully embracing disclosure and apologies, not only because they believe it will reduce malpractice claims, but also because it's ethically the right thing to do. Led by Lucian Leape, MD, a group of physicians, patients, and executives from Harvard Medical School's teaching hospitals have drafted a sweeping disclosure policy that establishes detailed procedures for physicians to acknowledge medical errors and offer fair compensation for expenses related to medical injuries (www.boston.com/business/articles/2005/07/24/hospitals_study_when_to_apologize_to_patients/). In Colorado, the state's largest malpractice insurer, COPIC, has enrolled 1,800 physicians since 2000 in a disclosure program called the "3Rs" for "Recognize, Respond, and Resolve" (http://callcopic.com/publications/3rs/3rs_newsletter.htm). Under the program, physicians immediately express remorse, apologize to patients, and describe in detail what went wrong in the wake of an error. The insurer compensates patients for expenses related to the injury, including lost work time. Patients cannot participate in the program if they have filed a lawsuit, but they do not waive their right to sue later. Since 2000, the insurer has seen a 50% decrease in malpractice claims and a 23% drop in the cost of settling claims for these 1,800 physicians. Illinois recently passed a law allowing six hospitals to pilot a "Sorry Works!" program in which full apologies for bad outcomes from medical errors are combined with up-front compensation (www.sorryworks.net/). The state is so confident that the program will reduce malpractice claims that it will provide refunds to these facilities if they experience increases in payments.

Comments?I am thinking that it is a bit too late for some of us...still like Topper's idea better(crutch)

hugs,the silent Proud Grroup Co-owner who does read

ThyroFeisty(Feisty)www.thyrophoenix.comI like pigs. Dogs look up to us. Cats look down on us. Pigs treat us as equals. Sir Winston ChurchillBritish politician (1874 - 1965)