Harvard Joins IHI to Cut Referral Mistakespart III

07/16/18 • 10 min

part III: A new evidence-based tool helps doctors and practices close the loop on referral failures that may harm patients and lead to lawsuits

part III: A new evidence-based tool helps doctors and practices close the loop on referral failures that may harm patients and lead to lawsuits

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Part III: Harvard Joins IHI to Cut Referral Mistakes

According to estimates, as many as half of medical specialty referrals are not fully completed. In a study of medical malpractice cases asserted in the Harvard system between 2006 and 2015, 46 cases involved referral breakdowns, with an incurred cost of $11 million. The vast majority involved severe harm to the patient. Closing the Loop... is a guide to prevent this from continuing.

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Primary Care Docs Try to Up Their Diagnosis Game

The idea of missing something, or finding out that follow up on a lab order or specialty consult fell through the cracks, can haunt providers. Nothing represents these concerns better than a claim from a patient or family that you failed to diagnose their cancer. A recent review of professional liability claims from across the United States shows that diagnosis-related claims account for a higher percentage of dollar costs than any other category.