Due to a lack of clear guidance on the issue and the risk of disposing of something they may need to reference later, many medical staffs choose to keep every record that has ever made its way to the medical staff services department. But is this best practice?

A New York hospital being sued after one of its physicians was convicted of sexually assaulting several patients can’t use the state’s peer review privilege or the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) to prevent one of the victims from discovering the identities of the...

Good documentation has always been recognized as a way to reduce malpractice exposure. For years, healthcare professionals have heard that “if it is not documented, it was not done.” Clear documentation reduces liability exposure in a number of ways. Good communication can prevent medical errors...

On June 1, a disgruntled patient allegedly shot his back surgeon, another doctor, a receptionist, and a nurse before killing himself at St. Francis Hospital in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Another man was charged with attempted murder a few days later after allegedly stabbing a doctor and two nurses in the...