Now and then, something really unpleasant happens at a hospital, medical center or even at a medical practice, and “bad news” abounds. Unflattering headlines and stories flow, and negative hospital public impressions and perceptions have administrators reaching for the extra large bottles of Pepto-Bismol.
What if something like this hit the fan in your facility? There’s the Medicare fraud case in the news, for example, in which a podiatrist pleaded guilty to submitting more than $1 million in bogus invoices to providers. (The icing on this negative publicity cake was when the insurance carrier was billed for foot care of a double amputee.)
It's not IF, it's WHEN.
Toxic situations, of course, are best avoided all together. But reality teaches us that sooner or later something nasty is going to happen. It could be a big stinker, or it could be a mildly uncomfortable misunderstanding. And, as unpleasant as it all is, it’s best to be prepared for damage control via a medical practice or hospital public relation plan. Some idea starters:
What can you add to this list? Do you have a contingency plan in place? What’s the first and most important action step in heading off negative situations?
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