1. Knowledge is power

2. Did you notice the O.J. verdict --- liars lose

3. Conform your process to the patient, not the patient to your needs.

4. Why am I doing this What if...

5. Too busy? Too many patients? Too smart? Too important? Too rich? GET SUED !

6. Get advice Get consultation Before you get in trouble

7. When the family worries and calls let the secretary answer questions. Save a minute - risk a suit

8. Why don't malpractice lawsuits prevent further malpractice lawsuits

9. How to lose: Delay "prompt" record releases Alter records Poor medical-legal evaluation Improper discovery Rely on friends Refuse to settle if negligent

10. Mediocre or routine or thoughtless care is unacceptable and malpractice when rendered by a professional who is a member of a special profession.

11. It is understood that not every error by a physician or other member of the team automatically is malpractice.

12. Damage control is good business and should be taken seriously. Bad quality is expensive. Fixing mistakes means repeat work and costs time and money.

13. Your patient has a right to expect quality care and extra time when she is severely ill, worried, or having a problem which needs your undivided attention

14. If there are four possible ways in which a procedure can go wrong, a fifth way, unprepared for, will promptly develop.

15. AVOID MEDICAL MALPRACTICE Damage Control System 8 1997 Our thought patterns determine our behavior.

16. THINK QUALITY CARE All the time

17. Are you committed to excellence; To do the best you can. Take your time. Think about the problem. Study if needed.

18. Can patients trust you? Will you do the right thing? You know what it is. Do it.

19. A hospital is not a Holiday Inn. If you don't believe me, check the rates. Are you surprised ?

20. Every doctor owes more to medicine than just using it to make a living.

21. Do you "care" about the patient ? Treat your patients as you would like to be treated.

22. Never stop learning Enjoy something everyday Always question authority

23. Nothing is as easy as it looks.

24. Everything takes longer than you think.

25. Anything that can go wrong will go wrong.

26. If anything simply cannot go wrong, it will anyway.

27. Whenever you set out to do something, something else must be done first.

28. Web site: http://www.DrRein.com

29. E mail to: DrRein@USCourt.com

30. The standard is quality The standard is consideration Standard means safe care is important

31. Prevent medical malpractice using the Damage Control with Zero Defects method

32. It is said regarding damage control and quality improvement: "You do not have to do this. Survival is not compulsory."

33. Consider subliminal communication C The tone and messages you send at crisis time

34. Patients are entitled to high quality. Diagnosis and treatments should meet their individual requirements.

35. ABANDONMENT causes fear and anger. It is - not being there when you are needed most. Needed is defined by the patient, not by medical standards.

36. Quality service requires that you meet the needs, answer questions, stay longer, explain more, hear and listen, empathize -- don't lecture. Do these often.

37. Was the right thing done at the right time in the right way, by the right person, under the right circumstances, and did it get the expected results?

38. It may not be as easy as it was the last time.

39. Would you practice the learning curve on yourself?

40. Right as distinguished from wrong by your common sense, and by patient needs at the time. Were expectations unfulfilled?

41. EVERY complication is MAJOR to the patient. The big difference between major and minor surgery depends on who has the knife.

42. Used your judgment, did you? Good judgment requires all these. Knowledge and its proper application. Think for yourself. Question authority. Keep learning. Trust and listen to the patient.

43. If there is a possibility of things going wrong, the one that will cause damage will be the one to go wrong. If there is a bad time for something to go wrong, it will happen then.