It is of utmost importance for the Florida dentist to protect his practice from lawsuit. Lawsuits are awful, even if they are successfully defended. No Florida dentist wants to spend his valuable time, or threaten his hard-earned reputation by being sued for dental malpractice. Dental malpractice insurance is necessary for protection, but it is equally important for the Florida dentist to prevent a dental lawsuit from ever occurring. Dental malpractice lawsuits are emotionally taxing and financially draining for the Florida dentist.
A Florida dentist who follows Risk Management principles to reduce risk usually delivers higher quality patient care. He or she has a better chance of avoiding or reducing the frequency and severity of dental malpractice insurance claims. A dental malpractice insurance company will find it much easier to defend a Florida dentist who adheres to consistent Risk Management techniques. Quality dental malpractice insurance companies encourage their dental clients to take Risk Management training. Most offer a discount on a dental malpractice insurance policy if the dentist participates in live or on-line risk management courses.
In a dental Risk Management course, the Florida dentist will learn about the importance of:
- Proper office procedures—Informed consent forms and careful handling of patient charts
- Good patient relationships—Patients do not want to sue a dentist they like, even for an unfavorable outcome.
- Effective communication skills—Both the dentist and his staff, by treating patients kindly and efficiently, can avoid an unreasonable reaction to a problem.
Ongoing and effective dental Risk Management should be an integral part of the Florida dentist’s practice.
