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| Malpractice and communication skills for difficult situations | |
| James W Pichert1, Gerald B Hickson2 and Tinsla S Trotter3 Departments of 1Medicine and 2Pediatrics and the 3Office of Insurance and Risk Management, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN, USA |
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| ABSTRACT | |
| Background | Medical students have not always had access to information and behavior skills training related to malpractice, and communication skills for difficult situations. Perhaps as a result, some pediatricians become involved in lawsuits that might have been avoided by using interpersonal skills known to enhance doctor-patient relationships. Research suggests that many families file malpractice suits when adverse outcomes are associated with poor physician-patient relationships, physicians' criticisms of one another, unclear communications, and poor office organization. To begin to address these issues, a multi-disciplinary faculty and risk management staff have developed a 6h, small group course for 4th year medical students taking their 4 week ambulatory medicine elective rotation. |
| The course | Entitled "Malpractice and Communication Skills for Difficult Situations", the course begins with a 1 h overview lecture. Students and faculty then role-play and discuss selected scenarios drawn from closed claims files in the University's Office of Risk Management. A discussion highlights risk management principles and practical strategies for simultaneously providing quality care and minimizing risk. Anonymous student satisfaction questionnaires are administered at the end of the course. |
| Conclusions | Students overwhelmingly agreed that the course applies to professional practice, believe the role plays are important, say that the material is not covered elsewhere in the curriculum, and would recommend the course to others. Presented with an opportunity to learn some of these skills late in their undergraduate medical training, students respond positively to the experience. |
| Keywords | communication, malpractice, medical education |
