Communication the Key to Improving Health Care and Preventing Medical Malpractice

PRLog (Press Release) - Nov. 14, 2011 - If medical professionals want to improve health care and prevent medical malpractice lawsuits, they should focus on developing their communication skills says Nexus Insurance Services.  This announcement comes in light of a new study published in the Journal of the American College of Radiology (JACR) which reveals that Diagnostic physicians are at increased risk for medical malpractice claims due to communication failures.

Brian D. Gale, MD, MBA, assistant professor of radiology at SUNY Downstate Medical Center in Brooklyn, and colleagues found that what contributed to communication failures included, for example, failure of physicians and patients to receive results; delays in report findings; and lengthy turnaround time.  According to the study, these three communication failures totaled $91 million in payouts in 2010, compared to $21.7 million in 1991.

“The lack of communication, whether it be failure to communicate honestly with a patient or failure to disclose pertinent information about a patient’s diagnosis, has led to many medical malpractice lawsuits,” says Michael Kataf of Nexus Insurance Services.  “It’s our hope that more medical professionals will pay attention to these types of studies and understand the importance of developing stronger relationships with their patients, which can be forged through better communication.  We strongly believe that improved communication leads to better health care.”  

An example of lack of communication in health care can be found in patient handoffs such as referrals from primary care physician to specialist or change in shifts at hospitals.  A study published in the Feb. 28, 2007, issue of The Journal of the American Medical Association reported that direct communication between hospitals and primary care physicians happens between 3% to 20% of the time.  

“As a medical malpractice insurance broker, one of our goals is to educate health care professionals about providing better patient care.  We invite doctors, physicians, and all professionals to participate in our Facebook community and provide tips, resources, and help create a support system that encourages positive improvement in the health care industry,” says Kataf.  

To join the Nexus Insurance Services community on Facebook, visit:
http://www.facebook.com/NISMalpracticeInsurance

# # #

About Nexus Insurance Services

Nexus Insurance Services is a professional insurance broker that has helped many doctors, lawyers, realtors, and business owners gain access to insurance providers for their practice or business. The company's mission is to be a firm that brings real value to clients, builds personal relationships on top of business ones, and always conducts itself with sincerity, integrity and fairness. Because of the relationships with many providers, the company is able to shop a client's application around to get the best rates. Contact Nexus Insurance for a free, no obligation quote for medical malpractice insurance, professional liability insurance, or workers compensation insurance. For more information, visit: http://www.nexus-insurance.net