Episodes
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Links/Resources
U.S. Preventive Services Task Force- https://www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/uspstf/
American Cancer Society- https://www.cancer.org/
American College of Gastroenterology -https://gi.org/
Feedback or episode ideas email the show at [email protected]
Disclaimer: Information provided in this podcast should not be relied upon for personal, medical, legal, or financial decisions and you should consult an appropriate professional for specific advice that pertains to your situation. Health care providers should exercise their professional judgment in connection with the provision of healthcare services. The information contained in this podcast is not intended to be, nor is it, a substitute for medical diagnosis, treatment, advice, or judgment relative to a patient’s specific condition.
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Amy Herum, a nurse and patient safety and risk manager with Copic, joins us to talk about the purpose and scope of EMTALA. Amy explains the situations that trigger EMTALA obligations and the definition and assessment of an “emergency medical condition.”The discussion then looks at the requirements and process of transferring a patient under EMTALA, the penalties and consequences of violating EMTALA, and the conditions that end EMTALA obligations such as when a medical screening exam shows no emergency medical condition, the patient is transferred to another hospital in compliance, or when the patient refuses examination, treatment, or transfer and signs an informed refusal or against medical advice form.
Feedback or episode ideas email the show at [email protected]
Disclaimer: Information provided in this podcast should not be relied upon for personal, medical, legal, or financial decisions and you should consult an appropriate professional for specific advice that pertains to your situation. Health care providers should exercise their professional judgment in connection with the provision of healthcare services. The information contained in this podcast is not intended to be, nor is it, a substitute for medical diagnosis, treatment, advice, or judgment relative to a patient’s specific condition.
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Missing episodes?
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Our guest is Anna Barr, a patient safety and risk manager with Copic, who joins us to talk about terminating the provider-patient relationship. The discussion starts by looking at the main considerations before terminating a patient: trying to mend the relationship by using effective communication and conflict resolution skills, assessing the clinical situation, the risk of abandonment, the possibility of discrimination, and the contractual obligations that may apply. Anna then highlights key termination steps such as notifying and assisting the patient, and documentation. She also talks about the benefits of having a practice-wide policy for non-compliance or disruptive behavior that can help prevent situations that may lead to termination.
Feedback or episode ideas email the show at [email protected]
Disclaimer: Information provided in this podcast should not be relied upon for personal, medical, legal, or financial decisions and you should consult an appropriate professional for specific advice that pertains to your situation. Health care providers should exercise their professional judgment in connection with the provision of healthcare services. The information contained in this podcast is not intended to be, nor is it, a substitute for medical diagnosis, treatment, advice, or judgment relative to a patient’s specific condition.
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This episode features Renee Blattman, a nurse and risk manager with Copic, who has 20 years of experience in the perioperative environment. The discussion focuses on the challenges and risks in this environment—a high-paced, high-volume, and fast-turnover setting, where there is a lot of pressure to keep the patients moving and the OR schedule tight. Renee talks about the growth and trends in ambulatory surgery centers along with the increased risks of discharge and follow-up care, as patients may need more education and support at home. In addition, she highlights how a culture of safety is essential and how this includes being proactive, collaborative, and mindful as a team.
Feedback or episode ideas email the show at [email protected]
Disclaimer: Information provided in this podcast should not be relied upon for personal, medical, legal, or financial decisions and you should consult an appropriate professional for specific advice that pertains to your situation. Health care providers should exercise their professional judgment in connection with the provision of healthcare services. The information contained in this podcast is not intended to be, nor is it, a substitute for medical diagnosis, treatment, advice, or judgment relative to a patient’s specific condition.
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In this episode, our guest is Heather Westermeyer, a Patient Safety and Risk Manager with COPIC, and the topic is documentation. Heather highlights the role documentation plays in continuity of care—from ensuring an accurate medical history to supporting communication among providers. She also talks about how documentation serves a key purpose in legal protection/defense in medical liability issues and the importance of articulating your thought process. In addition, the discussion touches on best practices, standardized templates and protocols, and the dangers of copying and pasting.
Feedback or episode ideas email the show at [email protected]
Disclaimer: Information provided in this podcast should not be relied upon for personal, medical, legal, or financial decisions and you should consult an appropriate professional for specific advice that pertains to your situation. Health care providers should exercise their professional judgment in connection with the provision of healthcare services. The information contained in this podcast is not intended to be, nor is it, a substitute for medical diagnosis, treatment, advice, or judgment relative to a patient’s specific condition.
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LaDonna Kelley, a nurse risk manager with COPIC, is the guest for this episode, which looks at patient safety and risk management for geriatric patients. LaDonna tells a personal story about the challenges with caring for this patient population and how certain situational factors impact their care experience. She mentions issues such as hearing limitations, technology, and mobility and being aware of these during interactions. The conversation also examines communication challenges and the importance of clear communication with geriatric patients.
Feedback or episode ideas email the show at [email protected]
Disclaimer: Information provided in this podcast should not be relied upon for personal, medical, legal, or financial decisions and you should consult an appropriate professional for specific advice that pertains to your situation. Health care providers should exercise their professional judgment in connection with the provision of healthcare services. The information contained in this podcast is not intended to be, nor is it, a substitute for medical diagnosis, treatment, advice, or judgment relative to a patient’s specific condition.
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In this episode, we talk with Carrie Beth Roddy, a COPIC Patient Safety and Risk Manager, who joins Dr. Zacharias for a conversation on Just Culture. Carrie starts with defining the concept of Just Culture, explaining how it is being integrated into traditional medical culture, and the importance of using it to create opportunities to prevent future medical errors. We dig into the difference between human and system errors, factors that contribute to Just Culture’s success, how it facilitates more open discussions among providers while ensuring the highest level of safe treatment for patients, and ways that it supports meaningful interactions in the healthcare workplace.
Feedback or episode ideas email the show at [email protected]
Disclaimer: Information provided in this podcast should not be relied upon for personal, medical, legal, or financial decisions and you should consult an appropriate professional for specific advice that pertains to your situation. Health care providers should exercise their professional judgment in connection with the provision of healthcare services. The information contained in this podcast is not intended to be, nor is it, a substitute for medical diagnosis, treatment, advice, or judgment relative to a patient’s specific condition.
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This episode features COPIC Patient Safety and Risk Manager, Amanda Heinrichs, who discusses the importance of documentation—from sharing patient information with other medical team members to supporting care decisions. Amanda covers a wide breadth of documentation issues, such as limiting documentation to only facts about the case, moving past finger-pointing in the event of an undesirable outcome, and timely documentation to ensure quality of care. Furthermore, she talks about insights from attorneys, the pros and cons of using scribes, and conducting assessments to evaluate what is going on with patients to support your documentation.
Feedback or episode ideas email the show at [email protected]
Disclaimer: Information provided in this podcast should not be relied upon for personal, medical, legal, or financial decisions and you should consult an appropriate professional for specific advice that pertains to your situation. Health care providers should exercise their professional judgment in connection with the provision of healthcare services. The information contained in this podcast is not intended to be, nor is it, a substitute for medical diagnosis, treatment, advice, or judgment relative to a patient’s specific condition.
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COPIC Patient Safety and Risk Manager Cindy Walsh is our guest to set the record straight on medical records retention—giving us insight into ethical obligations, key considerations when referring patients or closing a practice, and the importance of having a clear records maintenance/retention policy. Furthermore, Cindy outlines how regular record audits and attention to state mandates now can prevent retention headaches in the future.
Resources mentioned in the episode:
Medical record laws overview- www.HealthIT.gov
HIPAA- www.HHS.gov
Record retention ethics- https://www.ama-assn.org/
Feedback or episode ideas email the show at [email protected]
Disclaimer: Information provided in this podcast should not be relied upon for personal, medical, legal, or financial decisions and you should consult an appropriate professional for specific advice that pertains to your situation. Health care providers should exercise their professional judgment in connection with the provision of healthcare services. The information contained in this podcast is not intended to be, nor is it, a substitute for medical diagnosis, treatment, advice, or judgment relative to a patient’s specific condition.
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Dr. Susan Sgambati, a colorectal surgeon and medical director with COPIC, is our guest on this episode that looks at the increased use of semaglutide medications driven by the popularity of Ozempic being used for weight loss. The discussion focuses on liability and risk issues, including recently issued FDA warning letters surrounding the use of compounded forms of the medication. Dr. Sgambati talks about how the medication works, side effects, how to assess patients who are interested in these medications, and other considerations as part of your evaluation.
Feedback or episode ideas email the show at [email protected]
Disclaimer: Information provided in this podcast should not be relied upon for personal, medical, legal, or financial decisions and you should consult an appropriate professional for specific advice that pertains to your situation. Health care providers should exercise their professional judgment in connection with the provision of healthcare services. The information contained in this podcast is not intended to be, nor is it, a substitute for medical diagnosis, treatment, advice, or judgment relative to a patient’s specific condition.
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Pamela Johnson—a nurse and Senior Manager of Practice Quality and Facilities Risk Management at COPIC—joins us for a discussion about data around patient falls in health care facilities. Pamela highlights the top three areas where falls occur in these settings and talks about top risk factors that contribute to these incidents. She also points to adjustments that can make an immediate preventative impact, such as proper lighting and pathways, the importance of environmental rounds, and dispels major myths about falls and healthcare.
CDC STEADI- Older Adult Fall Prevention https://www.cdc.gov/steadi/index.html
John Hopkins- Fall Prevention- https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/preventing-falls
John Hopkins- Fall Risk Assessment- https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/institute_nursing/_docs/JHFRAT/JHFRAT%20Tools/JHFRAT_acute%20care%20original_6_22_17.pdf
Feedback or episode ideas email the show at [email protected]
Disclaimer: Information provided in this podcast should not be relied upon for personal, medical, legal, or financial decisions and you should consult an appropriate professional for specific advice that pertains to your situation. Health care providers should exercise their professional judgment in connection with the provision of healthcare services. The information contained in this podcast is not intended to be, nor is it, a substitute for medical diagnosis, treatment, advice, or judgment relative to a patient’s specific condition.
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Anna Barr, a nurse risk manager with COPIC, joins us for this episode to talk about the benefits of using informed consent in your medical practice. Anna highlights how informed consent is a process (not just a form), the goals of shared decision making that guide this, and how it can be a tool to foster trust and understanding with patients. In addition, we look at what situations require informed consent and key considerations in how you approach the process. Anna also explains what informed refusal is, how this differs from “against medical advice,” and provides examples of when you may want to utilize it.
Feedback or episode ideas email the show at [email protected]
Disclaimer: Information provided in this podcast should not be relied upon for personal, medical, legal, or financial decisions and you should consult an appropriate professional for specific advice that pertains to your situation. Health care providers should exercise their professional judgment in connection with the provision of healthcare services. The information contained in this podcast is not intended to be, nor is it, a substitute for medical diagnosis, treatment, advice, or judgment relative to a patient’s specific condition.
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This episode is part of a special series that focuses on organizations that received grant funding from the COPIC Medical Foundation for initiatives that address the issue of reducing fragmentation across care settings. Dr. Zacharias welcomes back Jennifer Disabato, DNP, and William Anderson, MD, who are co-directors for the ImPACT Program and Navigation Hub, which focuses on care coordination for complex pediatric patients as they transition to adult care. Jennifer and Dr. Anderson talk about the progress made in building skilled teams to support patients going through these transitions. In addition, they discuss the other key focus of the program—coaching medical clinics on these transitions through trainings, evidenced-based templates, and resources to address EHR communication challenges and other related issues.
Feedback or episode ideas email the show at [email protected]
Disclaimer: Information provided in this podcast should not be relied upon for personal, medical, legal, or financial decisions and you should consult an appropriate professional for specific advice that pertains to your situation. Health care providers should exercise their professional judgment in connection with the provision of healthcare services. The information contained in this podcast is not intended to be, nor is it, a substitute for medical diagnosis, treatment, advice, or judgment relative to a patient’s specific condition.
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This episode is part of a special series that focuses on organizations that received grant funding from the COPIC Medical Foundation for initiatives that address the issue of reducing fragmentation across care settings. Dr. Zacharias welcomes two staff members from West Mountain Regional Health Alliance—Christina Gair, Executive Director, and Namrata Shrestha, Assistant Director. Grant funding went toward a care coordination effort to support individuals experiencing homelessness with coordination by hospitals, health and behavioral health providers, community organizations and government agencies. The discussion looks at the challenges of coordination across multiple organizations and different workflows, consideration of factors such as social needs (e.g., food, housing, transportation) and behavioral health, and the importance of creating a useful tool that helps “connect the dots” for care teams.
Guest Website: https://westmountainhealthalliance.org/
Feedback or episode ideas email the show at [email protected]
Disclaimer: Information provided in this podcast should not be relied upon for personal, medical, legal, or financial decisions and you should consult an appropriate professional for specific advice that pertains to your situation. Health care providers should exercise their professional judgment in connection with the provision of healthcare services. The information contained in this podcast is not intended to be, nor is it, a substitute for medical diagnosis, treatment, advice, or judgment relative to a patient’s specific condition.
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This episode is part of a special series that focuses on organizations that received grant funding from the COPIC Medical Foundation for initiatives that address the issue of reducing fragmentation across care settings. Dr. Zacharias welcomes Dr. Matthew Gonzales and Dr. Deborah Unger who are affiliated with a grant provided to the Providence Portland Medical Foundation. Grant funding supported Providence and the Oregon Physician Orders for Life Sustaining Treatment (POLST) Registry for a partnership to build a bi-directional interface which integrates Providence's Epic electronic health record with the Registry. Dr. Gonzales and Dr. Unger discuss about how POLST is designed to respect people’s wishes around care/treatment inside and outside of health care settings. They also talk about how POLST is utilizing digital technology to inform others across different systems, the challenge of state-by-state legislation, and the insight gained through the project so far.
Feedback or episode ideas email the show at [email protected]
Disclaimer: Information provided in this podcast should not be relied upon for personal, medical, legal, or financial decisions and you should consult an appropriate professional for specific advice that pertains to your situation. Health care providers should exercise their professional judgment in connection with the provision of healthcare services. The information contained in this podcast is not intended to be, nor is it, a substitute for medical diagnosis, treatment, advice, or judgment relative to a patient’s specific condition.
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This episode is part of a special series that focuses on organizations that received grant funding from the COPIC Medical Foundation for initiatives that address the issue of reducing fragmentation across care settings. Dr. Zacharias welcomes Tori Bahr, MD and Katie Stangl who are affiliated with a grant provided to the Minnesota Medical Association Foundation. Grant funding supported Project ECHO, which focuses on the challenge of transitioning youth with medical complexity to adult care in Minnesota. The discussion explains the different conditions that fall under “childhood onset medical complexity” and how the ECHO hub-and-spoke model leverages virtual collaboration to expand expertise and knowledge, and connects providers across different settings to address patient care issues.
Show Email- [email protected]
Gillette Children's Hospital Transitions - https://www.gillettechildrens.org/get-involved/attend-an-event#medical-professionals
Legal Disclaimer: Information provided in this podcast should not be relied upon for personal, medical, legal, or financial decisions and you should consult an appropriate professional for specific advice that pertains to your situation. Health care providers should exercise their professional judgment in connection with the provision of healthcare services. The information contained in this podcast is not intended to be, nor is it, a substitute for medical diagnosis, treatment, advice, or judgment relative to a patient’s specific condition.
Feedback or episode ideas email the show at [email protected]
Disclaimer: Information provided in this podcast should not be relied upon for personal, medical, legal, or financial decisions and you should consult an appropriate professional for specific advice that pertains to your situation. Health care providers should exercise their professional judgment in connection with the provision of healthcare services. The information contained in this podcast is not intended to be, nor is it, a substitute for medical diagnosis, treatment, advice, or judgment relative to a patient’s specific condition.
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Documentation in medicine is no one’s favorite topic. In this episode, host Dr. Eric Zacharias aims to simplify guidance surrounding “what” and “how much” is needed for patient safety and risk management purposes. What follows is not “hard” science, but rather a discussion of basic criteria—and what's realistic and reasonable outside of policy rules and guidelines.
Feedback or episode ideas email the show at [email protected]
Disclaimer: Information provided in this podcast should not be relied upon for personal, medical, legal, or financial decisions and you should consult an appropriate professional for specific advice that pertains to your situation. Health care providers should exercise their professional judgment in connection with the provision of healthcare services. The information contained in this podcast is not intended to be, nor is it, a substitute for medical diagnosis, treatment, advice, or judgment relative to a patient’s specific condition.
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In this episode, we are joined by David Weill, MD, a transplant doctor and author of Exhale: Hope, Healing, and a Life in Transplant. Dr. Weill shares openly about losing and saving patients, dysfunctional teams and systems, and burnout in transplant medicine. Through the lens of his own emotional and physical exhaustion, he explores the underbelly of hospital systems and the clinical, administrative, and financial issues plaguing the specialty. He is an advocate of shifting the blame of burnout away from the individual and placing it on the macro problems that contribute to physician dissatisfaction.
Feedback or episode ideas email the show at [email protected]
Disclaimer: Information provided in this podcast should not be relied upon for personal, medical, legal, or financial decisions and you should consult an appropriate professional for specific advice that pertains to your situation. Health care providers should exercise their professional judgment in connection with the provision of healthcare services. The information contained in this podcast is not intended to be, nor is it, a substitute for medical diagnosis, treatment, advice, or judgment relative to a patient’s specific condition.
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We continue the conversation about artificial intelligence (AI) in this second episode of a two-part series. Our guest is Dr. Michael Victoroff, a family medicine physician, patient safety and risk management specialist, and clinical informatics expert. Dr. Victoroff uses image interpretation in radiology as an example of AI because it sees things humans miss and humans see things AI misses. We look at other AI applications—support for diagnosing and creating a treatment plan, concerns with visit notes (e.g., inaccuracies, information designed for billing purposes versus information for patient care, bias that can emerge, etc.), and the knowledge medical providers will need to acquire about AI’s role in medicine. In addition, Dr. Victoroff highlights key risk considerations such as cyber risks, AI impersonation of other medical professionals and facilities, and how this technology may extend into our personal lives.
Feedback or episode ideas email the show at [email protected]
Disclaimer: Information provided in this podcast should not be relied upon for personal, medical, legal, or financial decisions and you should consult an appropriate professional for specific advice that pertains to your situation. Health care providers should exercise their professional judgment in connection with the provision of healthcare services. The information contained in this podcast is not intended to be, nor is it, a substitute for medical diagnosis, treatment, advice, or judgment relative to a patient’s specific condition.
Feedback or episode ideas email the show at [email protected]
Disclaimer: Information provided in this podcast should not be relied upon for personal, medical, legal, or financial decisions and you should consult an appropriate professional for specific advice that pertains to your situation. Health care providers should exercise their professional judgment in connection with the provision of healthcare services. The information contained in this podcast is not intended to be, nor is it, a substitute for medical diagnosis, treatment, advice, or judgment relative to a patient’s specific condition.
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In this two-part series, we look at the rise of artificial intelligence (AI) and examine the potential ways it may impact medicine. Our guest is Dr. Michael Victoroff, a family medicine physician, patient safety and risk management specialist, and clinical informatics expert who has gone down the rabbit hole of trying to understand the good, the bad, and the ugly of AI. Dr. Victoroff explains the fundamental technology behind AI applications, such as ChatGPT, and its interactive structure designed to generate human-like language and conversation. He talks about the concept of machine learning, how the “garbage in, garbage out” theory applies, and the “black box” dilemma of not knowing exactly how this technology got to its answers and what sources or information were used. We then look at the potential roles of AI in health care related to replacing scribes and documentation, voice recognition and language translation capabilities, and the ever-present concerns over accuracy and inadvertent errors that may arise.
Feedback or episode ideas email the show at [email protected]
Disclaimer: Information provided in this podcast should not be relied upon for personal, medical, legal, or financial decisions and you should consult an appropriate professional for specific advice that pertains to your situation. Health care providers should exercise their professional judgment in connection with the provision of healthcare services. The information contained in this podcast is not intended to be, nor is it, a substitute for medical diagnosis, treatment, advice, or judgment relative to a patient’s specific condition.
Feedback or episode ideas email the show at [email protected]
Disclaimer: Information provided in this podcast should not be relied upon for personal, medical, legal, or financial decisions and you should consult an appropriate professional for specific advice that pertains to your situation. Health care providers should exercise their professional judgment in connection with the provision of healthcare services. The information contained in this podcast is not intended to be, nor is it, a substitute for medical diagnosis, treatment, advice, or judgment relative to a patient’s specific condition.
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