Reducing Litigation Risk For Primary Care Physicians Through Checks and Balances

In today’s world of managed care, hospitals are increasingly under pressure to discharge patients as soon as possible, often sending them home prematurely.  The critical follow up care for these patients then falls on the shoulders of their primary care physicians (PCPs) who might never be aware that their patients were ever hospitalized, but are nonetheless held responsible for their continued care.  If a patient’s health is compromised following their hospital release, the primary care physician is increasingly being held liable, often to his or her complete surprise.