Reducing Medical Malpractice: What the research suggests Problem: What causes a patient to file a malpractice claim? Surprisingly, a number of studies indicate that quality of care, medical negligence, and poor chart documentation are often not the motivating factors in patient lawsuits. What seems to be a more likely occurrence is that patients who experience unexpected outcomes are more likely to sue if they also perceive the physician “was not caring and compassionate.” Research: In the last few years, a number of innovative research studies have analyzed the transcripts of patient depositions and physician-patient communications. These studies have found that from a patient’s perspective, a breakdown in communication between the patient/family and physician is a major risk factor contributing to malpractice claims. A surefire recipe for litigation seems to be an unexpected outcome combined with what the patient perceives as poor communications with the physician. In one study, 71% of the patients cited “a perceived lack of caring” by their physicians as primary motivating factor in initiating a law suit. Almost a third of these patients who brought suits perceived that they had been “deserted” by their physicians. Specialty Groups: The research on patient-physician communications has evolved to suggest that there may be differences among specialty group’s communication patterns that prompt law suits. In one study, surgeons who used a “dominating” voice tone were more likely to be sued than those surgeons who used a “less dominating tone.” Research with obstetricians indicates that practitioners who are perceived as “unavailable, rushed, unconcerned, and poor communicators” are more at risk for lawsuits. In contrast, another study indicates, primary care physicians who educated their patients about what to expect, asked questions about the patient’s problems, and shared some humor were less likely to be sued Proposed Solutions: The Fortisan Group provides focused and brief training seminars and/or individualized coaching sessions in order to alert physicians to what patients perceive as “high risk” interactions and/or “poor communications” that trigger lawsuits. These group seminars and individualized coaching sessions are designed to address problematic communication patterns unique to specialty groups and offer very specific recommendations to providers. Physicians attuned to these “high risk” interactions may not only be enhancing patient communication and satisfaction rates but significantly reducing their liability risk. Seminars & Coaching sessions: An experienced team of a physician and psychologist is available to present the training seminars and individualized coaching sessions.