Is Defensive Medicine Good Risk Management?

Doctors that practice defensive medicine regularly are practicing good risk management, right? Well that depends. Good risk management has to fall into the lines of the organization's goals and budget. So when doctors go over board with testing and procedures then they may fall outside of both goals and budget. However at the same time the doctor may be preventing a large law suit by a patient against themsleves or their organizations. When thinking about this it really shows how the practice of risk management is very difficult to get right all the time. This is where risk professionals that are trained in analysis, identification, control and managment step in. The future for practitioners of risk management in medicine is bright. I see where they are sitting right next to the doctor making decisions on where to take risk and where to not take risk.  Until next time be careful out there and know your risks. K

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