Health Facility Risk Management Key Terms

Learn the language of risk management in the medical field

When developing a risk management plan for a health care facility, it's important to know the definitions of commonly used key terms. Whether you're writing the plan yourself or hiring a risk management consulting firm, you'll want to understand the potentially confusing words and phrases that often pop up in risk management. Medical risk management strives to prevent adverse events, which are incidents that could cost the health facility both money and reputation.

 

Incident reporting software

Incident reporting software is a computer or web-based program that allows health care facilities to log and track adverse events. By analyzing the reported incidents, the software provides health care facilities with information that helps reduce the risk of recurring events.
Try: For an example of web-based incident reporting software for the health care industry, visit CCD Health Systems.

Informed consent

Informed consent refers to the policy of obtaining a patient's signature following a detailed explanation of what a procedure entails, including its risks. Without obtaining the patient's informed consent, a physician is vulnerable to accusations of malpractice.
Try: Learn more about informed consent at the Yale-New Haven Hospital & Yale University School of Medicine website. To see examples of informed consent forms, visit the Ophthalmic Mutual Insurance Company website.

Advance directives

Advance directives are instructions for medical treatment if a patient is unable to make decisions regarding care. An advance directive can be either verbal or written guidelines, determined by the individual before an incapacitating illness or injury. A do-not-resuscitate order is an example of an advance directive.
Try: Read more about advance directives at the Jamaica Hospital Medical Center website. Additional information about advance directives can be found at MedlinePlus.

Malpractice coverage

Malpractice coverage, also referred to as professional indemnity insurance, covers the cost of defending lawsuits filed by patients claiming they have been harmed by a health care worker's negligence. The coverage also pays for damages awarded if the plaintiff wins the lawsuit.
Try: Read an article about malpractice coverage at Physician's News Digest. For examples of medical malpractice coverage, visit The Doctors Company.

Algorithms

Algorithms are diagnostic tools that help health care workers make decisions about a patient's care. The algorithm walks the nurse or physician through a series of symptoms and scenarios, then provides the recommended course of action.
Try: To read an example of how an algorithm is used in conjunction with other diagnostic testing, visit the Pennsylvania Department of Health.

Culture of safety

The culture of safety model is implemented by ensuring every worker in a health care facility is focused on safety. When an adverse event occurs, the culture of safety examines what caused the event rather than placing blame on an individual. The goal is to identify the system's failures and work to correct them in a positive manner.
Try: Learn more about the culture of safety model at the Department of Community and Family Medicine, Duke University Medical Center website. Read about behaviors that disrupt a culture of safety at The Joint Commission website.

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