(HealthDay)—The use of physician extenders (PEs; mainly physician assistants and nurse practitioners) may bring added legal risks to a practice, according to an article published in Medical Economics.
The role of PEs varies based on the statutory provisions of the state in which they practice. These statutes typically relate to training and licensing requirements, PE to doctor ratios, presence and availability of supervising doctor, and review and cosigning of charts.
According to Medical Economics, the increasing use of PEs has not resulted in an increase in malpractice lawsuits or payouts. However, in the event that a patient is harmed by the actions or inactions of a PE, physicians can be exposed to liability for malpractice even if they were not directly involved in treating the patient. The legal theories that may be applied to attach liability to a physician include negligence in the hiring of a PE, failure to supervise properly, and on the grounds that the PE is acting as an agent for the physician. Three problematic areas in terms of physicians using PEs include failure to have a system in place for working with PEs, lack of effective communication from the physician to the PE, and avoiding the temptation to give too much autonomy to the PE.
"By following these suggestions, physicians, PEs, and, most importantly, patients will reap the many benefits of PEs' participation in the health care team," according to the article.
Explore further: Anticoagulation seen in about half of sub-segmental PE cases
More information: More Information
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(HealthDay)—The use of physician extenders (PEs; mainly physician assistants and nurse practitioners) may bring added legal risks to a practice, according to an article published in Medical Economics.
The role of PEs varies based on the statutory provisions of the state in which they practice. These statutes typically relate to training and licensing requirements, PE to doctor ratios, presence and availability of supervising doctor, and review and cosigning of charts.
According to Medical Economics, the increasing use of PEs has not resulted in an increase in malpractice lawsuits or payouts. However, in the event that a patient is harmed by the actions or inactions of a PE, physicians can be exposed to liability for malpractice even if they were not directly involved in treating the patient. The legal theories that may be applied to attach liability to a physician include negligence in the hiring of a PE, failure to supervise properly, and on the grounds that the PE is acting as an agent for the physician. Three problematic areas in terms of physicians using PEs include failure to have a system in place for working with PEs, lack of effective communication from the physician to the PE, and avoiding the temptation to give too much autonomy to the PE.
"By following these suggestions, physicians, PEs, and, most importantly, patients will reap the many benefits of PEs' participation in the health care team," according to the article.
Explore further: Anticoagulation seen in about half of sub-segmental PE cases
More information: More Information
Copyright © 2015 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
Medical Xpress on facebook
Related Stories
Anticoagulation seen in about half of sub-segmental PE cases
(HealthDay)—Sub-segmental pulmonary embolism (SSPE) represents a substantial burden of total pulmonary embolisms (PEs), according to research published online Dec. 1 in the Journal of Thrombosis and Ha ...
Get the science right to value nature
An international group of scientists, industry representatives and policymakers wants to set guidelines for the science behind valuing nature.
Issues to consider with integration of telemedicine
(HealthDay)—Integrating telemedicine raises various considerations, including operational and legal issues, according to an article published July 24 in Medical Economics.
Incidence of PE hospitalizations rises from 2001 to 2010
(HealthDay)—The incidence of hospitalizations for pulmonary embolism (PE) increased from 2001 to 2010, and a pattern of seasonal variation can be seen in PE hospitalizations, according to a study published ...
AMA: Key steps for minimizing liability risk in telemedicine
(HealthDay)—Key steps should be taken to minimize the potential risk of liability resulting from use of telemedicine, according to an article published by the American Medical Association (AMA).
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Medtronic has agreed to pay $4.4 million to settle a lawsuit filed by the federal government accusing the company of selling medical devices made in China and Malaysia to the U.S. military.
2015 match sees high proportion of unmatched seniors
(HealthDay)—About 6.1 percent of U.S. allopathic medical school seniors in the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP) were not placed into first-year residency positions, with a higher percentage of ...
Odds of reversing ICU patients' preferences to forgo life-sustaining care vary, study finds
Intensive care units across the United States vary widely in how they manage the care of patients who have set preexisting limits on life-sustaining therapies, such as authorizing do-not-resuscitate (DNR) orders and prohibiting ...
Horizon Pharma buying Hyperion for about $1.1 billion
Horizon Pharma is buying Hyperion Therapeutics for about $1.1 billion, gaining two treatments for genetic disorders.
What to do with kidneys from older deceased donors?
A new study highlights the best way to use kidneys from older deceased donors, providing the most benefits to patients and addressing the worsening organ shortage. The study's findings, which appear in an upcoming issue of ...
Consent process for medical research conflicts with standard UK practice
A major investigation into the views of volunteers on the consent process for medical research has been found to conflict with the standard practice required for consent in the UK.
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