Decision Support

CRICO Clinical Guidelines

In conjunction with clinical experts from Harvard-affiliated health care organizations, CRICO develops and maintains evidence-based decision support tools for physicians and nurses whose patient encounters align with high-severity malpractice risks. These guidelines, algorithms, and other tools are designed and periodically updated to help clinicians identify risk prone steps in specific diagnostic or treatment processes, and suggest protocols.

Colorectal Cancer Screening Algorithm

Colorectal cancer is the second most common type of cancer cited in malpractice claims naming CRICO-insured physicians. To address the risk issues, CRICO convened an advisory group of primary care providers and gastroenterologists to develop a Colorectal Cancer Screening Algorithm.

Breast Care Management Algorithm

Failure to diagnose breast cancer affects CRICO-insured providers across a spectrum of specialties. To reduce the likelihood of such events, a task force of breast care specialists, coordinated by CRICO, identified the key factors contributing to allegations of mismanaged breast care and subsequently developed the CRICO Breast Care Management Algorithm.

PSA Testing for Prostate Cancer

Malpractice cases involving missed or delayed prostate cancer diagnoses continue to be a top concern. PSA Testing for Prostate Cancer includes examples related to cases in which the diagnosis of prostate cancer was delayed. Against that backdrop, we offer specific advice for PSA testing relative to a patient’s personal and family history.

Featured

Legal Report: Benefits and Risks of Using Guidelines Do rules work in medicine?

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Legal Report: Benefits and Risks of Using Guidelines

Tom A. Augello, CRICO

January 1, 2009

One physician expert argues that wider use of clinical guidelines will improve patient safety, while a seasoned defense attorney offers some cautions.
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Guidelines for Prescribing Psychiatrists Consultative, collaborative, or supervisory relationships

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Guidelines for Prescribing Psychiatrists

January 1, 1998

As part of patient care activities, most prescribing psychiatrists enter into a variety of professional relationships with other clinicians. When division of responsibility in these relationships is ambiguous, quality of treatment may be affected.
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General Informed Consent Guidelines It is the physician’s responsibility

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General Informed Consent Guidelines

Jock Hoffman, CRICO

May 5, 2011

These guidelines are based in part on opinions and advice of malpractice defense attorneys in Massachusetts. CRICO recognizes that institutions should continue to have the flexibility to respond to such recommendations in a manner that will least disrupt the orderly provision of health care at the facility.
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Decision Time Decision support for high-risk encounters

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Decision Time

Jock Hoffman, CRICO

November 1, 2010

Do clinical guidelines protect or jeopardize a physician’s exposure to allegations of malpractice? Are they good or bad for patients?
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CRICO home

Decision Support

CRICO Clinical Guidelines

Colorectal Cancer Screening Algorithm

Breast Care Management Algorithm

PSA Testing for Prostate Cancer

Featured

Legal Report: Benefits and Risks of Using Guidelines

Guidelines for Prescribing Psychiatrists

General Informed Consent Guidelines

Decision Time