Question

A registration employee in the cardiac catheterization laboratory noticed that one physician was providing the identical diagnosis as the reason for the procedure for all of his patients presenting for services in this department. None of the other physicians reported the exact same diagnosis for all of their patients. The physician in question also has a much higher number of referrals to the cardiac catheterization lab than other physicians. This employee does not have access to patients’ medical records, so she cannot check to see if the diagnosis is supported by documentation in the patients’ medical records.

1.What should the employee do?

2. What steps should the employee's supervisor take?

3. What course(s) of action on the part of the facility might be appropriate to resolve this matter?

4. What potientioal federal statute(s) or law(s) may be at issue here?

Answer 1

1. If the employee is not access to medical records, then he should inform his higher authority of supervisor.

2. The supervisor should go and inform the manager with all necessary information. The manager who has access to have medical information has to check and verify the above complaints and takes them to the Board of directors who can enquire and take legal action on that physician.

3. The committee members should have the right to take action if the physician has practiced against the medical code of ethics. Before taking necessary action, misdiagnosing should be proved.

4. Misdiagnosing is considered as malpractice and if it is proved, the action is taken for the negligence of physician under the lawsuit of fault in Medical Malpractice.