Lisa Lefkovits, MD, a board-certified internal medicine specialist at Laureate Medical Group, visits the MagMutual Podcast again to discuss an interesting and complicated case involving delayed diagnosis of a post-operative pulmonary embolism in an elderly male. Dr. Lefkovits shares her analysis of this case with podcast host Steve Adubato, PhD, and describes the importance of post-operative care and communicating concerns to patients. They also talk about items to document in the medical record when a patient refuses hospitalization, post-surgical symptoms and red flags, diagnostic tests to consider if PE is suspected, and more.

Lauren Hamilton, MD, an obstetrician/gynecologist at Charleston (SC) OB/GYN, shares her expertise in the management of postpartum hemorrhage with our podcast host, Steve Adubato, PhD. By talking through a real-life case that led to a malpractice claim, Dr. Hamilton describes the significance of a timely response when dealing with postpartum hemorrhage, how to predict and prepare for postpartum hemorrhage in advance, the need to be able to quantify blood loss in real time, the importance of a postpartum hemorrhage cart, and much more.

Steve Adubato, PhD, speaks with Lisa Lefkovits, MD, a board-certified internal medicine specialist at Laureate Medical Group (Atlanta, GA), about a case involving the late diagnosis of colon cancer in a patient that resulted in a medical malpractice claim. Dr. Lefkovits discusses some of the complicating factors in this case, including a noted difference between the patient’s experience and what was documented in the chart, and shares her thoughts on what could have been done to avoid the poor outcome. Dr. Lefkovits also provides insights on how to ensure age-appropriate screenings, effective patient communication, thorough documentation and safe, quality medical care.

In this episode of the MagMutual Podcast, Steve Adubato, PhD, speaks with Matt Catoe, an assessment analyst who specializes in managing cyber and regulatory proceedings for MagMutual PolicyOwners. Matt discusses different types of billing audits as well as how providers may be selected and notified about an investigation. He also advises MagMutual policyholders on the first steps to take should they be notified of an audit.

In this episode of the MagMutual podcast, Steve Adubato, PhD, speaks with obstetrician/gynecologist Alan Joffe, MD, about the top loss drivers and most common causes of malpractice claims against OB/GYNs. Dr. Joffe describes the expectation of perfection when it comes to delivering babies and the impact malpractice lawsuits have on practicing physicians. Dr. Joffe walks listeners through a real case study on shoulder dystocia. He also discusses best practices for performing a Cesarean section and provides specific strategies on how to minimize the associated risks.

In this episode, Steve Adubato, PhD, speaks with Christopher Holstege, MD, chief of the division of medical toxicology and professor of emergency medicine and pediatrics at the University of Virginia and a member of the medical faculty at MagMutual. Dr. Holstege provides important information about urine drug screens, including their history, their ability to keep up with the latest synthetic drugs, whether they can be beat, and what additional testing may be necessary in acute overdose situations. Dr. Holstege also discusses the recent policy changes coming from the DEA on the X-Waiver program for prescribing buprenorphine.

This podcast was originally a production of MDAdvantage, which is now part of the MagMutual family of companies.

Clearing violent patients in the emergency department can be a difficult and imperfect endeavor for emergency department (ED) physicians, particularly when considering that 25 percent of suicidal patients initially deny having suicidal ideations. In this episode, Steve Adubato, PhD, speaks with Doug Finestone, MD, a psychiatrist and a member of the medical faculty at MagMutual. Dr. Finestone discusses best practices for screening and identifying patients at risk of harming themselves or others when presenting in the ED, including the importance of relying on one’s own instincts and level of anxiety as a guide, and looking for clues in the patient’s history and behavior.

In this episode, Steve Adubato, PhD, speaks with Christopher Holstege, MD, chief of the division of medical toxicology and professor of emergency medicine and pediatrics at the University of Virginia and a member of the medical faculty at MagMutual. Dr. Holstege describes the common sources of medication errors, explains the difference between medication errors and adverse drug reactions, and provides recommendations on how to ensure patients get the right medications every time. He discusses the importance of communication and checks and balances among the healthcare team, why there is reporting bias with medication errors, what to pay attention to when administering pediatric medications, and other important tips.

Recorded Date: 3/7/2023

In this episode, Steve Adubato, PhD, speaks with Asha Patel Shah, MD, MBA, FAAD, a board-certified dermatologist and a member of the medical faculty at MagMutual. Dr. Shah discusses a variety of medication-related topics in dermatology, including off-label medication use and its associated risks for patients and physicians. Dr. Shah shares her insights on the use of off-label medications, including the informed consent process, medical record documentation and payer reimbursement, and more. She also speaks about best practices for prescribing medications and communicating patient responsibilities.

In this episode, Steve Adubato, PhD, speaks with Jean Anderson Eloy, MD, Chair of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery at Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center and Vice Chair and Distinguished Professor at the Rutgers New Jersey Medical School. He is joined by his colleague, Dr. James K. Liu, Director of Cerebrovascular, Skull Base, and Pituitary Surgery at Rutgers Neurological Institute of New Jersey and Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center, and Professor of Neurological Surgery at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School. Dr. Eloy and Dr. Liu describe their team approach to a state-of-the-art Endoscopic Skull Base Surgery Program that uses an endonasal technique to remove brain tumors previously performed with a craniotomy. They discuss the benefits of this advancement as well as their techniques in communicating complicated surgeries to patients and their families.