Surgery: Know your Risks (Non-Physician Version)

Surgical malpractice claims are a top area of litigation and communication issues are often cited as a principal contributing factor. With the establishment of the Harvard Surgical Chiefs Safety Collaborative, improving communication issues started with a “trigger card” to enhance communication between residents and attendings. Extending this work led to implementation of the operating room team training program, and surgeons' 360 degree reviews.

 Effective communication between the surgeon and patients and families can lead to a stronger relationship and realistic patient expectations, helping to keep you from being named in a malpractice case. Listen to our expert faculty discuss communication through building a better informed consent process.

Upon completion of this activity, participants will be able to:

• Identify communication risks specific to surgery
• Discuss the risks of poor communication and expectations setting
• Describe informed consent as a legal principle and a process to improve communication

Faculty

• Bill Berry, MD, MPH, Associate Medical Director in Surgery, CRICO
• Craig Lillehei, MD, Senior Associate in Surgery, Boston Children’s Hospital
• Matthew Grygorcewicz, Esq., Hamrock, Puleo & Oh
• Kathy Dwyer, MSN, RN  Senior Program Director, Patient Safety, CRICO

Continuing Medical Education
CRICO/Risk Management Foundation of the Harvard Medical Institutions is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

CRICO/RMF designates this enduring material for a maximum of 1.0 AMA PRA Category I Credit™
Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

This activity is designed to be suitable for 1.0 hours of Risk Management study in Massachusetts.