When Medical Error happens, is Early Intervention best?

Larry Smith

VP, Risk Management
MedStar Health

Rachel Layko

Dir, Risk Management
MedStar

Larry Smith and Rachel Leyko of MedStar Health explain Early Intervention, their journeys to advocacy and evidence of lowers costs and better outcomes for patients, families and clinicians. When patient injuries happen, healthcare personnel may withdraw from patients and withhold information for fear of litigation. Early Intervention is an alternative approach in which physicians and health system staff quickly acknowledge an injury has occurred. By providing immediate assistance (without accepting blame) when not clearly at fault, patients are more collaborative than adversarial, and prompt medical care lessens future harm.