Seven Cs of Malpractice Prevention

Competence: Knowing and adhering to professional standards and maintaining professional competence reduce liability exposure

•Compliance: The compliance by health professionals with policies and procedures in the medical office and hospital avoids patient injuries and litigation

•Charting: Charting completely, consistently, and objectively can be the best defense against a malpractice claim

•Communication: Patient injuries and resulting malpractice cases can be avoided by improving communication among healthcare professionals

•Confidentiality: Protecting the confidentiality of medical information is a legal and ethical responsibility of health professionals

•Courtesy: A courteous attitude and demeanor can improve patient rapport and lessen the likelihood of lawsuits

•Caution: Personal injuries can occur unexpectedly on the premises and may lead to lawsuits