PLYMOUTH MEETING, PA -- About one in four patients treated in physician offices, the most widely used segment of the American healthcare system, experience an adverse event. Unsafe practices can open up a physician office to costly errors, potential liability claims, and patient harm. ECRI Institute has generated a new resource specifically for this high-risk segment.

ECRI Institute (www.ecri.org) announces the publication of its new guide Physician Office Fundamentals in Risk Management and Patient Safety. This special 250-page comprehensive resource will help physician practices develop strategies to control risks and improve patient safety. Physician office managers and personnel will find targeted information for dealing with complex safety and risk issues that arise in any practice ranging from small single practitioner offices to group physician offices.

Physician Office Fundamentals in Risk Management and Patient Safety provides essential information including:
* An overview of important legal principles, regulations, and standards affecting the physician practice
* An assessment of systems and administrative factors that contribute to malpractice claims
* Tips for assessing the culture of safety and conducting a risk management assessment of the practice
* Specific strategies for medication safety, infection control, and office emergencies
* Advice about the safe selection, use, and maintenance of office equipment and technology

"ECRI Institute's new publication, Physician Office Fundamentals in Risk Management and Patient Safety, is a major step forward for office based physicians and their staffs. While it includes updates on many common and well covered risk management areas, it also moves into the important areas of safety and quality in the office setting" says Nancy C. Elder, MD, MSPH, Associate Professor, Department of Family Medicine, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio.

"For too long, there has been little evidence-based guidance for physicians on what constitutes quality care and safe processes in the office setting. This guide offers a concise review of our current state of knowledge and offers many practical applications. It will be an excellent resource for office-based physicians wishing to improve their clinical practices."

Each guide comes with a CD-ROM containing time-saving tools to facilitate the development of practice specific documents and procedures, including self-assessment tools, sample policies and procedures, forms and checklists, education tools, and links to additional online resources.