News/Press Release

Medical Risk Management, LLC and the Connecticut Association of Ambulatory Surgery Centers Announce 2007 Informed Consent Risk Management Initiative

Thursday, January 11, 2007: January 2007: (HARTFORD, CT)
Medical Risk Management, LLC is pleased to announce that it has partnered with the Ambulatory Surgery Center Patient Safety Organization to develop their second safety initiative focusing on the informed consent process – policies, procedures, forms and documentation. It was determined that an effective informed consent process was essential to ensuring patient safety and would be an extremely important focus for all ambulatory surgical facilities. Through appropriate education and protocol development both facilities and patients would see improvement.

The joint project was designed as a multiphase approach:
Phase I involved data: collection, review and evaluation, resulting in a written report as well as an oral presentation whereby recommendations for improvement in the informed consent policies/procedures and forms currently utilized by ASC PSO members were identified.

Phase 2 involved an educational component which reinforced, enhanced and solidified the prescribed recommendations and findings. Several venues for this education component were utilized including a web-based module which discussed the informed consent process and addressed the unique patient safety/risk management issues confronting ambulatory surgery centers. Risk Management Rounds© were also presented whereby selected legal cases involving ambulatory surgical centers were utilized in a “live setting” similar to the traditional “grand rounds” approach. Written newsletter content was also prepared to provide an update on the relevant legislative and medico-legal issues impacting informed consent laws in the state of Connecticut. Finally, an informational flyer was prepared to identify and address patient safety “take-aways” as emphasized in the Risk Management Rounds and educational module.


About ASC PSO, LLC: In 2005,the Ambulatory Surgery Center Patient Safety Organization, LLC (PSO) was created pursuant to the Connecticut Legislature’s requirement that all ambulatory surgery centers and hospitals participate contract with a PSO. By creating a PSO focused on the ambulatory setting,the ASCPSO, LLC is able to customize its initiatives to address theissues, educational opportunities and patient safety/risk management concerns most relevant to the ambulatory surgery centers and their patients.
About MRM: MRM is a Connecticut based company dedicated to providing healthcare organizations and physicians with practical risk management solutions and related educational programming.. MRM develops and implements risk management educational programs and systematic solutions for hospitals, physician groups and medical malpractice insurers seeking to improve patient safety, and reduce malpractice losses through disciplined, process driven risk management programs. MRM employs a progressive and multidisciplinary approach to risk evaluation/analysis/education and designs customized and technology driven solutions for loss control. MRM brings a highly sophisticated and experienced level of medical, legal, insurance, risk management and technology experts into synergy for its clients in order to identify vulnerabilities and implement mechanisms to secure control over the increasingly perilous and complex problem of “medical malpractice.”

For additional information contact:
Kevin Kelly,
CEO Medical Risk Management LLC
Tel. 860-493-5709
e-mail- Kkelly@1mrm.com