Advanced Strategies for NPs to Mitigate Malpractice Risk: Pt 2

In Part 1 of this series, we explored the foundational strategies that Nurse Practitioners (NPs) can use to protect themselves from malpractice claims, such as thorough documentation, staying within the scope of practice, and effective patient communication. Now, let’s take a closer look at some...

Ruan v. US: A Summary of Legal/Illegal Prescribing

Medical practitioners may get sued. Are they prepared? What is the Ruan v. US case and why is it important? Do medical schools teach anything about law? Jennifer Bolen, JD, is the founder of the Legal Side of Pain, and answers our questions.

Controlled Substance Prescribing: What’s New

It’s been quite a year! What’s new in prescribing? What’s new in controlled substance prescribing? PAINWeek senior faculty member Jennifer Bolen, JD, fills us in on what we need to know. What’s different and why?

Expert Testimony and Misapplication of Guidelines

Dr. Doug Gourlay and legal expert Jennifer Bolen discuss the intersection of medicine and law. What are the connections between carrying out licensing board directives on using opioids to treat pain, reasonably prudent medical decision-making, and documentation. Practitioners must never lose sight...

Inside the Trojan Horse: Practitioners and the Law

PAINWeek faculty favorites Jen Bolen and Dr. Doug Gourlay illustrate the connection between carrying out licensing board directives on using opioids to treat pain and reasonably prudent medical decision-making, and don’t forget documentation. What should a practitioner do in a court of law if called...

Federal Action and Its Impacts on Care

Published in PWJ - PAINWeek Journal Vol 7, Q3 | 2019

Staying Compliant in a Litigious Environment

To provide high-quality care for individuals with pain, a healthcare practitioner should have current knowledge of clinical standards, analyze each patient’s medical needs, and create an individualized treatment plan. Providing such care to patients who often present with complex histories, unique...

Drug Testing--What's the Risk for Your Practice?

Practitioners end up at risk in drug testing because they lack knowledge of the policies that payors put out on medical necessity. They also can get into a lot of trouble if they don’t understand the mechanics of the clinical laboratory regarding presumptive testing and definitive testing. It’s...

How Many Lawyers Does It Take to Keep a Practitioner Out of Trouble?

To provide high quality care for individuals with pain, a healthcare practitioner should have current knowledge of clinical standards, analyze each patient's medical needs, and create an individualized treatment plan. Similarly, to provide high quality legal counsel to pain care practitioners, an...

Overdose! Legal Risk Mitigation and Response

Overdose--a small word that packs a major punch, and a big reason for many recent legal regulatory changes in controlled substance prescribing and pain management. Too many physicians and allied healthcare practitioners are caught unawares by the legal issues surrounding overdose events, fatal and...