When it comes to today's healthcare environment, cyber security breaches are an ongoing concern for providers and their practices. From phishing emails to ransomware attacks, healthcare organizations are frequent targets due to the high value of patient data and the complexity of medical systems.
Cyber Security in Healthcare: Practical Tips to Protect Your Practice
Oct 1, 2025 7:00:05 AM / by PICA Risk Management Specialist posted in Risk Management, Coverage
The Role of Comprehensive General Liability Insurance in DME Credentialing for Podiatrists
Sep 29, 2025 3:15:43 PM / by PICA Risk Management Specialist posted in Risk Management, Coverage
As more podiatric physicians incorporate Durable Medical Equipment (DME) into their practices – from custom orthotics to diabetic footwear – understanding the regulatory and credentialing landscape has become increasingly important. One key requirement that’s often overlooked until it delays or derails your DME program is proof of Comprehensive General Liability (CGL) insurance.
Beyond Malpractice: Why Podiatrists Should Consider Additional Business Insurance Coverage
Sep 29, 2025 3:03:54 PM / by PICA Risk Management Specialist posted in Risk Management, Coverage
As a podiatric medical physician, you have medical malpractice insurance to help protect you from claims related to patient care. While this coverage is essential, there are additional risks to consider. Coverages like a business owner’s policy (BOP) and workers’ compensation insurance can help provide an added layer of protection for your practice.
Texting with Patients: The Risks and Safer Alternatives
Sep 10, 2025 5:40:00 PM / by PICA Risk Management Specialist posted in Risk Management, Compliance
Nearly everyone texts to communicate. It’s quick, easy, and convenient. However, texting with patients carries professional, legal, and ethical risks, including:
- Privacy and HIPAA compliance. Standard texting is not secure. Messages can be intercepted, viewed on shared devices, or accidentally sent to the wrong number. Therefore, any patient’s personal health information sent via text risks a HIPAA violation and possible fines.
Maintaining Professional Boundaries with Patients
Sep 10, 2025 5:39:17 PM / by PICA Risk Management Specialist posted in Risk Management, Practice Management
Professional boundaries are the ethical, legal, and relational limits that define the interactions between healthcare professionals and their patients. They protect the therapeutic relationship by ensuring that it remains focused on the patient’s health, safety, and well-being. Maintaining these boundaries is crucial for fostering trust, preserving professional integrity, and avoiding conflicts of interest.
The Risks and Benefits of Patients Recording Visits
Aug 5, 2025 11:21:26 AM / by PICA Risk Management Specialist posted in Risk Management
Patients recording, either audio or video, their encounters with healthcare providers has become increasingly common. While healthcare providers may be alarmed when a patient asks to record their visit, it is not necessarily a bad thing. Recording patient encounters has both risks and benefits.
De-Escalation in Healthcare: Preventing Workplace Violence and Mitigating Risk
May 12, 2025 1:28:06 PM / by PICA Risk Management Specialist posted in Risk Management
Workplace violence in healthcare settings is on the rise, putting providers at risk physically, emotionally, and legally. According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), healthcare workers are five times more likely to experience workplace violence than workers in other industries. For podiatric medical physicians, this presents not only a safety concern, but a risk management priority. Implementing strong de-escalation techniques can protect staff, improve patient care, and reduce liability.
The Growing Threat of Workplace Violence in Healthcare
Healthcare environments are particularly vulnerable to aggression and violence. Contributing factors may include:
Wound Care – Protect Yourself and Your Patients
Apr 11, 2025 1:11:25 PM / by PICA Risk Management Specialist posted in Risk Management
It is not uncommon for lawsuits to arise from wound care treatment. You can provide care to the best of your ability, and sometimes poor outcomes still happen. A poor outcome does not necessarily mean medical negligence; however, when a poor outcome happens, patients can perceive that the standard of care was not provided, become unhappy, and file a lawsuit. Common allegations include delay in diagnosis, failure to properly treat, failure to timely refer, and failure to obtain informed consent. Therefore, it is of utmost importance to take measures to protect yourself and your patients during the wound care process.
The Role of Informed Consent in Patient Care and Medical Liability
Mar 10, 2025 2:23:08 PM / by PICA Risk Management Specialist posted in Risk Management
As a doctor, you use your knowledge, experience, and medical judgment to determine the best course of treatment for your patient. However, adult patients with decision-making capacity have the right to choose or refuse to follow your treatment plan.
Reducing the Risk Related to Unplanned Serial Surgeries
Feb 6, 2025 1:51:46 PM / by PICA Risk Management Specialist posted in Risk Management, Claims
Imagine this scenario. You perform surgery on a patient and the patient does not heal as expected or has a complication. You perform another surgery to correct the problem, but the patient eventually needs further corrective surgery. Your relationship with the patient has deteriorated, and the patient decides to seek treatment from another physician. In the meantime, the patient’s bills are piling up and the patient is having a tough time paying the bills. To make matters worse, the new physician criticizes your surgeries. The patient decides to sue you.