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Malpractice is a growing issue in the healthcare industry. Many people are saying that lawsuits are keeping healthcare costs high, while others believe it's the overpriced medications and high insurance premiums that are the problem. Regardless of what's going on in healthcare and the politics surrounding this industry, medical malpractice is still an issue and it's hurting everyone. Many Malpractice Cases Could Be Prevented Medical malpractice has caused many in the healthcare industry to take notice and figure out ways to reduce errors. Everyday hundreds, if not thousands, of people are injured or killed due to medical negligence or errors. So it comes as no surprise that hundreds of billions of dollars are spent just for litigation every single year. Many doctors or physicians get in trouble due to prescription mistakes or miscommunicating the side effects from these medications, which may have led to death. There are also healthcare workers who have been sued because of accidents that could have easily been prevented. If professionals adopt a more focused, commonsense approach to interacting with patients, malpractice claims would not be so high. There are several ways that malpractice can be prevented. One way is to have clear lines of communication between doctor and patient. Another way is to have a standard system of conduct and processes. Putting the "care" back into healthcare should be the mindset. Consequences For Healthcare Professionals Besides the possibility of losing one's credibility, or even a job the health care professional will also have to pay up. Damages may include loss of wages. physical and mental suffering, medical bills, loss of future earnings, etc. Many states have placed caps on what a victim can recover. If a doctor is found to have committed malpractice, he/she will have to pay for damages, which can end up costing hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of dollars. In turn, the premium for his/her medical malpractice insurance could go up. Regardless if the healthcare professional wins or loses the lawsuit, the whole idea of going through this type of ordeal can be stressful and depressing. Instead of being focused at work, the mind will be occupied with the "should have's" and "only if's". The lack of concentration may even be the cause of another medical mistake. Healthcare Tort Reform Helps A Little I believe that tort reform does help, but there is so much that politicians and the government can do. There was a bill that was brought before Congress, H.R. 5, which is supposed to dramatically reform the nation's medical liability system. Furthermore, quite a few states have made moves to implement caps on damages. While these types of laws may help in the short run, if you want to take a long-term approach to making healthcare better, keeping costs low, and reducing malpractice lawsuits, it comes down to improving the patient experience. The focus on improving the quality of healthcare is starting to make its way around medical associations and groups. People are realizing that if professionals would just stop and take a deep breath every now and then, it helps with staying focused and reduces medical errors. The Key Is Communication According to Kevin Pho of KevinMD.com, the key to reducing malpractice lawsuits is doctor-patient communication: "If an error was made, many insurers advise physicians not to talk to patients. That's wrong. Physicians should disclose their mistake, apologize and, when appropriate and through mutual agreement, compensate injured patients." Patients just want healthcare professionals to quit treating them as just another patient to add to the medical files. If a doctor shows that he/she truly cares about their well being and keeps in close contact with patients, then that's all that really matters. What Do You Think? What are your thoughts about medical malpractice? What steps can the healthcare industry take to improve the quality of care? What can healthcare professionals do? Should the government be involved?
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