The Psychiatrists' Program Offers Valuable Resources to Participants
Q. I attended APA's 2005 annual meeting in Atlanta and received a complimentary copy of Rx for Risk. I have found this resource to be quite informative and useful in my practice. Is it possible to subscribe to this newsletter?
A. Yes. Rx for Risk is a psychiatric-specific risk management newsletter written by the experienced staff of Professional Risk Management Services (PRMS), the manager of The Psychiatrists' Program, the APA-endorsed Psychiatrists' Professional Liability Insurance Program. Past issues of this quarterly newsletter have featured the following articles:
“Risk Management and Medication Prescribing/Administering” | |||||
“To Collect or Not to Collect? Overdue Bills and Resulting Malpractice Claims” | |||||
“Malpractice Liability for Forensic Activities: Liability in the Absence of a Treatment Relationship” | |||||
“Talking to Patients and Families About Medications: Improving Quality of Care and Reducing Professional Liability Risk When Prescribing for Children” | |||||
“Stolen Medical Records and the Threat of Identity Theft” | |||||
“Lessons to Be Learned: What Allegations in Post-Suicide Malpractice Lawsuits Can Teach About Risk Management Strategies” | |||||
“Examiner's Perspective: Inadvertent Disclosures of Patient Information” | |||||
Program participants receive complimentary issues of Rx for Risk as a benefit of their insurance coverage. Subscriptions are now available for nonparticipants for $79 a year. To subscribe, call (800) 245-3333, ext. 347.
Q. I was speaking with a colleague who purchased professional liability insurance coverage through The Psychiatrists' Program. She mentioned several of the educational resources that are available to participants. I am considering switching to The Program's carrier and am interested in learning more about its risk management and educational benefits.
A. Our risk management department has a thorough understanding of clinical and risk management issues that psychiatrists face in their practices. These are among the risk management resources and benefits that this dedicated team provides to Program participants:
The Risk Management Consultation Service (RMCS): Participants can call PRMS's experienced professionals with both legal and clinical backgrounds to obtain advice and guidance on risk management issues encountered in their psychiatric practice. This service can help prevent potential professional liability incidents and lawsuits. The RMCS is available via a toll-free number and The Program's Web site. | |||||
Psychiatric-specific risk management seminars: Participants can attend complimentary risk management seminars presented by PRMS. Nationally recognized specialists and experienced clinical, legal, insurance, and claims professionals reinforce basic risk management skills and techniques and educate attendees about current professional liability trends in the psychiatric field. A schedule of seminars is posted online at<www.psychprogram.com>. | |||||
Extensive online resources: In the section “For Participants Only” at<www.psychprogram.com>, participants have exclusive access to HIPAA resources, risk management articles, and customer service information. This section also features the Online Education Center, which includes multimedia educational presentations on topics such as responding to requests for releasing patient information, informed consent, termination of the psychiatrist-patient relationship, and much more. | |||||
Comprehensive risk management manual: This manual discusses the most important risk management issues and potential malpractice exposures facing psychiatrists today. Each chapter is devoted to a single area of risk (for example, protecting and disclosing patient information) and is accompanied by an appendix containing supplemental materials designed to reinforce the chapter's concepts and provide more specific information about how risk management principles and strategies may be applied in selected circumstances. This manual is available to participants in The Program both in a CD-ROM format and online. | |||||
Quarterly newsletters:Rx for Risk is a complimentary newsletter covering current clinical, risk management, and legal trends affecting psychiatrists (see the first question in this column). | |||||
These are just a few of the many benefits to which participants of The Psychiatrists' Program have access.
This column is provided by PRMS, manager of The Psychiatrists' Program, for the benefit of members. More information about The Program is available by visiting its Web site at<www.psychprogram.com>; calling (800) 245-3333, ext. 389; or sending an e-mail to [email protected].▪
