We Provide Risk Management – Legal healthcare consultation for providers who are delivering services and practicing in the midst of a morphing process.
Changes in health care delivery, regulations and trends produced a rush for innovation and creative opportunities for providers to deliver care and services, technologic innovations, mutations and integration for streamlining and unbundling of traditionally tied services. The market offers potential evidence based redesign systems at most all levels, However, the systems are instituted by people. So that regardless of what is done, risks are certain, but not always recognized or accurately calculated. Hindsight is dangerous when the problems are identified through reportable metrics, reimbursement losses and litigation.
Patient rights and standards of care do not change with trends, and are not limited by licensing regulations. Mid-level medical providers – physician assistants and nurse practitioners – must practice according to the same standards as physicians. Staff in free standing emergency and urgent care centers are held to the same competency standards of those in full services acute care medical centers and clinics. Facility regulations alone are insufficient assurance; and every Facility administration, board and governing body are held to the same standard“….required by all relevant state, and federal statutes and regulations, and best practices”; inclusive of standards for the practitioners who function within the scope of a facility license.
In other words, facilities can not place a licensed clinician in danger of violating his licensing requirements. Statutory requirements hold health care administration to the objective standard of providing safe, evidence based standards for practitioners and providers in the same or similar circumstances.
Keeping up with trends and competition may not provide sufficient time or competence for reasonable evaluation and risk assessment. Are current protocols, policies and procedures applicable, or deemed worth the process of creating, instituting and evaluating for effectiveness? Are committees the answer to all problems, or a front for paper compliance? Can all reimbursable procedures and services be safely and competently provided? Do pre-programed electronic records represent or betray staff competency and how do you know? Or, does anyone want to know? What is patient centered care? Has patient centered care been redefined as a euphemism or even possible? Are descriptive mission statements, goals and boiler plate language in bylaws and foundational materials meaningful or a liability? Are the old procedures for “certification and licensing survey preparation” applicable or effective?
