LANCASTER, PA, January 18, 2010 – James W. Saxton, Chair of Stevens & Lee’s Health Care Litigation Group and Co-Chair of the Health Care Department and Todd R. Bartos, a Shareholder of Stevens & Lee, have contributed a chapter to the Representing Physicians Handbook, recently published by the American Health Lawyers Association.

The chapter “Professional Liability: A Primer on Malpractice Insurance and Risk Management,” focuses on the types of medical professional liability insurance policies available to health care providers, and the impact and effects of each type in different practice settings. The authors examine risk management in the future of health care. The techniques they envision will be used to improve quality of care and reduce liability include enhanced documentation, such as more interactive consent forms, increased doctor-patient communication and increasing use of electronic health records.

ABOUT THE AUTHORS

James W. Saxton presents to nationally prominent health care organizations, such as the American Society for Healthcare Risk Management, the Medical Group Management Association and the American College of Surgeons. He is an active defense trial lawyer – a practice he has sustained for nearly 30 years – representing providers, including hospitals, physicians and retirement communities, in state and federal court and administrative proceedings. His practice includes litigation, licensing and medical staff issues. He uses his extensive experience as a litigator to advise hospitals, medical groups and retirement communities throughout the United States in connection with understanding and reducing their professional liability risk.

Mr. Saxton also develops risk reduction strategies for health care providers and organizations nationwide and has created innovative strategies and educational programs to support them. This includes the creation of complete customized loss control programs and event management systems for self-insured organizations and captive insurance groups. Mr. Saxton has published more than 200 articles, several handbooks and seven textbooks including most recently, Five-Star Customer Service: A Step-by-Step Guide for Physician Practices and the second edition of the popular text, The Satisfied Patient.

Todd R. Bartos concentrates his practice in health care litigation and risk mitigation. He works with physicians on risk management issues and is a defense trial lawyer focused exclusively on protecting the rights of health care providers in state and federal courts and administrative agencies. In addition to his trial work, Mr. Bartos lectures on risk management, issues of patient involvement and accountability, patient satisfaction and informed consent issues in the private practice, acute care hospital, post-acute care and long-term care settings. He has also published several articles and book chapters dealing with risk management issues, physician liability and electronic medical records.