2023 eTalk #6 - Managing complaints and legal issues in your practice: Tips, hints and understanding your insurance cover

Overview

Based on your feedback, this eTalk extends on the 2023 eTalk “Physios’ experience responding to complaints: What helps and what doesn’t?”

Featuring information from health law specialists and also a professional indemnity (PI) insurance specialist, it will give you an understanding of how to adequately respond to and address concerns raised by a regulator, when APA’s PI policy does and does not cover you, and also how to make a claim. As a physiotherapist, you work hard to ensure the health and safety of your patients. But even with your patient’s best interest at heart, you may find yourself having to respond to a complaint from AHPRA, HCCC and OHO. While being the subject of a complaint can be an extremely challenging time, there are things a practitioner can do once a complaint has been made to adequately respond to and address concerns raised by a regulator.

In this eTalk, health law specialists Jane Fiske, Partner; Amanda Seguna, Special Counsel; and Anna Murray, Lawyer, from law firm Lander & Rogers will present an overview of the regulatory system, as well as recent trends in complaints and the steps practitioners can take to respond to and avoid future complaints. Anna will draw on her physiotherapy background, having practised in the field for over 5 years before making the change to law. Shamus Breen, Managing Director of BMS Affinity (the APA’s insurance partner), will outline what the APA Professional Indemnity Policy does and does not cover, when to contact BMS and how to make a claim.

The discussion includes:

A high-level overview of the regulatory system.
Common risk areas, recent trends and focus areas for AHPRA/HCCC/OHO.
An overview of a physiotherapists' privacy and disclosure obligations.
Guidance to practitioners on ceasing the physiotherapist/patient treating relationship.
Hints and tips for practitioners to minimise the chance of being the subject of a complaint, and what to do in response if one is received.
APA Professional Indemnity Insurance: What is covered, and what is not.

This is a recording of a live lecture which took place on 23 May 2023.