Track 2-1
Management

The Link Between Culturally Informed Communication, Risk Reduction and Quality Enhancement

The presentation will focus on the reasons that MICOA, a medical malpractice insurance company, recognized cultural diversity as an important component of quality patient care and medical malpractice liability issues. There will be discussion on the assessment of claims that were closed between 1986-1997 in which cultural diversity issues could be identified as a potentially contributing factor. Examples will be provided of the types of quality, risk management and liability issues that were identified for healthcare practitioners who treat a multicultural patient population and the clinical efficiencies that can result from culturally informed communication.
  Participants will be provided information on how this material was utilized in the development and presentation of risk management education programs for physicians, allied healthcare practitioners and office staff. Additional information will be provided on how these risk management programs were used to both educate and motivate healthcare practitioners to regularly incorporate this material into their patient communication and interaction. The discussion will focus on the mutual benefits that exist for insurance companies, practitioners and patients if the healthcare delivery team identifies and incorporates the needs of culturally diverse communities into their medical practices.

R. Stephen Trosty, JD, MHA
Director, Risk Management
Mutual Insurance Corporation of America (MICOA)
1301 North Hagadorn Road
P.O. Box 1471
East Lansing, Michigan 48826-1471
Phone: 517-324-6808
FAX: 517-333-2800
strosty@MICOA.com
www.MICOA.com

R. Stephen Trosty is Director of Risk Management for Stratton-Cheeseman Management Company and Mutual Insurance Corporation of America (MICOA). Mr. Trosty’s experience includes positions as Senior Healthcare Consultant and Legal Advisor, Continental Insurance Healthcare; Vice President, Corporate Services, Sisters of Charity Healthcare Systems, Inc.; Director, Risk Management and Quality Improvement, Lutheran Health Systems; and Director, Risk Management and Quality Assurance, Ohio Hospital Association.
  Mr. Trosty has active involvement with the American Hospital Association, American Society of Healthcare Risk Management, American Medical Association, and the American Bar Association. He has been president of ASHRM and a member of the AHA/AMA Tort Reform and Medical Malpractice Task Force.
  He has published articles in national journals on risk management, legal and ethical issues, and presented programs for many national and state healthcare organizations.
 Mr. Trosty has a Law Degree, a Masters in Healthcare Administration and Planning, and a Bachelor Degree.  NEXT >

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