title: How policy makers can smooth the way for communication-and- resolution programs.
abstract: Communication-and-resolution programs (CRPs) in health care organizations seek to identify medical injuries promptly; ensure that they are disclosed to patients compassionately; pursue timely resolution through patient engagement, explanation, and, where appropriate, apology and compensation; and use lessons learned to improve patient safety. CRPs have existed for years, but they are being tested in new settings and primed for broad implementation through grants from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. These projects do not require changing laws. However, grantees' experiences suggest that the path to successful dissemination of CRPs would be smoother if the legal environment supported them. State and federal policy makers should try to allay potential defendants' fears of litigation (for example, by protecting apologies from use in court), facilitate patient participation (for example, by ensuring access to legal representation), and address the reputational and economic concerns of health care providers (for example, by clarifying practices governing National Practitioner Data Bank reporting and payers' financial recourse following medical error).
authors.forename: William M
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: Sage
authors.forename: Thomas H
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Gallagher
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Armstrong
authors.forename: Janet S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Cohn
authors.forename: Timothy
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: McDonald
authors.forename: Jane
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gale
authors.forename: Alan C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Woodward
authors.forename: Michelle M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Mello
mesh_terms: D000288:Administrative Personnel / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D003142:Communication; D035881:Compensation and Redress / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D006077:Government Agencies / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D019981:Health Care Sector / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D006291:Health Policy / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D006302:Health Services Research / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D006801:Humans; D016365:Liability, Legal; D008318:Malpractice / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D016749:National Practitioner Data Bank; D017008:Negotiating; D010344:Patient Advocacy / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D011050:Policy Making; D011787:Quality of Health Care / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D014481:United States
keywords: Hospitals; Legal/Regulatory Issues; Quality Of Care