Risk management fights back--the hospital's response to the malpractice explosion.

The development of hospital Risk Management prevention programs will lead to improved patient care and reduce the number and cost of future medical malpractice actions. An effective Risk Management Program must gear itself toward improving patient care through identifying and reducing hospital risks. This, in turn, will tend to reduce mortality and morbidity, and, in time, reduce the number of claims filed against the hospital, as well as decreasing the liability in each case. The ultimate goal of a successful Risk Management Program is to both improve patient care, and to reduce the cost of medical malpractice for the institution.