Policyholder Services

Revised Patient Notification Recommendations

Policyholders report spending more time and money dealing with missed appointments and noncompliant patients. We know from claims experience that documentation of efforts to notify and educate patients about the risks of no shows and refused treatment are key to both patient safety and to a successful defense of a malpractice claim. Plaintiff attorneys who find evidence of such teaching and communication often decline a case, or are willing to negotiate a more fair settlement. Our physicians often also wonder how to notify patients in the event a doctor retires or changes practice locations.

OMIC revised its recommendations on patient notification to make them as simple as possible, and to decrease the high cost of mailing letters. To access the recommendations and sample letters, please use the following links:

• Noncompliance www.omic.com/noncompliance-guidelines-with-sample-missed-appointment-letter/
• Termination of the Physician-Patient Relationship www.omic.com/terminating-the-physician-patient-relationship/
• Termination of the Physician-Patient Relationship for Financial Reasons www.omic.com/terminating-the-physician-patient-relationship-for-financial-reasons/
• When a Physician Leaves a Practice or Retires http://www.omic.com/leaving-practice/ www.omic.com/leaving-practice/

OMIC policyholders with questions about these issues are encouraged to contact our confidential Risk Management Hotline at 800-562-6642, option 4, or at riskmanagement@omic.com.