Medical errors present precarious situations for physicians as they decide how to articulate what went wrong to the patients' families, according to Kaiser Health News.
Here are six things to know:
1. Historically, hospitals have shied away from discussing medical errors with families to avoid malpractice suits.
2. Today, however, more hospitals are pushing policies that encourage transparency.
3. In May, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality issued its "Communication and Optimal Resolution" process, which advises providers how to enhance transparency when dealing with adverse events.
4. MedStar Health, with 10 hospitals in Maryland and Washington, D.C., has implemented a program based on AHRQ's guidelines.
5. MedStar's initiative created a standardized protocol for physicians when telling patients' families about medical errors. Physicians, called the "Go Team," undergo a four-hour training program and annual courses every six to eight months to guide them in these conversations.
6. The "Go Team" physicians participate in role-playing exercises, in which they actually act out how they would handle various family member reactions.
