Risk Management Tips for CRNAs

Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists take on many responsibilities during a patient’s time at a medical facility—crucially, they deal with the patient’s anesthetics. Because anesthesia is a delicate practice, CRNAs must perform their medical duties in the most professional and tactful fashion. Here are a few of the best risk management tips for CRNAs.

Report All Incidents

The first tip relates to honesty. If your office has a legal department or if you have CRNA malpractice insurance, you should report incidents when they happen. Even if nothing comes of the report and the patient doesn’t pursue legal charges, all parties connected to you and your practice should know.

Educate Yourself

Medicine changes fast and new drugs, procedures, and tests are available each year. As a professional in the sciences, you must stay up to date. You could have access to new anesthetics that you could administer or new testing methods that improve your ability to care for patients. You should also keep up with the change in medical law, specifically the scope of authority the state grants you in your practice. Understanding these nuances can help you mitigate risks.

Manage Consent Forms

Patient consent is vital to successful treatment. Don’t dismiss patients or forget to explain the details of an operation. Always have patients sign consent forms before performing any treatment or procedures and be sure to inform them of other options and alternative methods. The last thing you want to do is to give an anesthetic or assist in a procedure which the patient doesn’t want or can’t fully understand.

Knowing these risk management tips for CRNAs will help you make the most of your career. You’re in it for the long haul, so find the right insurance coverage to secure your future. Give us a call at Baxter & Associates today to find the right CRNA malpractice insurance for you.