(Excerpted from the November 2006 issue of Healthcare Risk Management)
When risk managers encourage full disclosure after an adverse event, one of the most common barriers is the physician's fear of being reported to the National Practitioner Data Bank (NPDB). Some insurers and risk managers are suggesting strategies that reduce that risk by encouraging patients not to file a written claim at all. Although such strategies can help physicians avoid data bank reports, risk managers must exercise caution.
Keep in mind these three points:
1. Reports may be avoided if the patient does not file a written claim.
2. The rules for data bank reports are complicated and require close scrutiny.
3. Even if a data bank report is inevitable, full disclosure can still be the most advantageous strategy.
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