Communication

and Malpractice
By: Alyssa Mitchell

Significance
My

story

Certainly,

one startling statistic that

caught everyone off guard was the
IOMs report that between 44,000 and
98,000 people die in hospitals annually
as a result of medical error (Benjamin,
2003, p. 769).

What is Malpractice?
Mullis

(1995) explains that

malpractice is negligent conduct that
harms a patient (pg. 135)

David

Benjamins Case Study

How Can This Change?

An

increase in communication between

the care provider and patient has the
potential to decrease malpractice.

Communication Tools:
Patient-Centered Care Model (PCC)
Patient Navigators and Advocates
Time (Disclosure)

Patient-Centered Care Model

Patient-Centered Care is clinical decision making

that flows from patient values (as cited in Reed,
Conrad, Hernandez, Watts, & Marcus-Smith, 2012,
pg. 120)

Based on a patients values, beliefs, and attitudes

Motivational Interviewing

Trust

Patient Navigators
Patient

Navigators help problem solve,

think critically, support patients through
treatment plans and build relationships
(Meredith, 2013, pg. 57).

Increase

communication and health

competency in patients

Time and Disclosure

More

time = More disclosure

More

disclosure results in a better

relationship between the patient and care
provider

79%

of Americans suggested that spending

extra time with patients would be effective in
trying to reduce the amount of malpractice

What is Social Penetration

Theory?

The process of developing deeper

intimacy with another person through
mutual self-disclosure and other forms of
vulnerability (Griffin, 2006, pg. 114).

4 Parts:

Social Penetration
Personality Structure (Onion)
Self-Disclosure
Depth and Breadth of Self-Disclosure

Theory Applied

Self-disclosure is necessary to have a

successful experience using Patient-Centered
Care and Patient Navigators

Social Penetration Theory explains the

process that takes place to successfully use
PCC and Patient Navigators.

Getting to know the patient and forming a

relationship is important when using these
communication tools.

References
Benjamin,D.M. (2003). Reducing medication errors and increasing patient
safety: Case studies in clinical pharmacology.Journal of Clinical
Pharmacology,43, 768-783.
Griffin, E. (2006).A first look at communication theory(7th ed.). Boston:
McGraw-Hill.
Meredith, S.M. (2013). Disparities in breast cancer and the role of patient
navigator programs. Clinical Journal of Oncology Nursing, 17(1), 54-59Mullis, J.
(1995). Medical Malpractice, Social Structure, And Social Control. Sociological
Forum,10(1), 135-163. Retrieved April 10, 2014, from the JSTOR database.
Reed, P., Conrad, D.A., Hernandez, S. E., Watts, C., & Marcus-Smith, M. (2012).
Innovation in patient-centered care: Lessons from a qualitative study of
innovative health care organizations in Washington State. BMC Family
Practice, 13(1), 120-128