Introduction

Each month, Claims Rx is published for the benefit of ProAssurance and NORCAL Group policyholders, featuring claims-based learning and risk management advice to improve patient safety and decrease your risk of a claim.

Typically, each Claims Rx provides an opportunity for insureds to earn AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ at no additional cost.

Our risk management team and editors constantly review industry trends and claim information to share ideas for reducing risk and increasing positive outcomes.

ARTICLE DESCRIPTION:

When engaging in patient care and treatment, it is important to consistently weigh the risks and benefits of text messaging and determine whether it is appropriate under the circumstances. As the case studies in this article show, careless text messaging practices in the healthcare environment can contribute to patient injury and substantially complicate the defense of malpractice claims. While taking advantage of improvements in efficiency and patient safety that text messaging can bring, it is important to recognize and manage privacy, security, patient safety, and professional liability risks. Using the strategies in this article can reduce the risk of medical errors, malpractice lawsuits, and HIPAA/HITECH violations caused by texting.