Continuing Education is One Way to Reduce Risk

New treatments are continually being developed and laws affecting healthcare providers are frequently enacted or revised, making it imperative that practitioners keep abreast of the latest developments. You may live in a state in which continuing education credits are required for re-licensure or need to keep earning CE credits in order to stay certified.

Continued learning is necessary to keep you up-to-date both clinically and legally. There are many options available to help you stay current. Take advantage of in-service programs at your facility, which often provide CE credit.

Look for continuing education that’s offered by professional organizations (such as SVU), clinical journals (such as JVU), and professional conferences and websites. In addition to boosting your knowledge level, clinical skills and confidence, continuing to learn and earn credits could make it harder for a plaintiff’s attorney to discredit you in the event of a negligence claim.

Seeking CE credits by reading about or taking courses on familiar diseases or topics will help you stay abreast of the latest therapies and developments. You can also benefit from updates on research studies, clinical techniques and laws and regulations affecting your specialty.

This risk management information was provided by Healthcare Providers Service Organization (HPSO), www.hpso.com, 1-800-982-9491. SVU supports the individual professional liability insurance policy administered through HPSO and underwritten by American Casualty Company of Reading, PA, a CNA company. Reproduction without permission of the publisher is prohibited. For questions, send an email to service@hpso.com.