ED managers must dig beneath the surface to uncover all potential sources of liability.

Studying your data on issues such as radiological miss rates and identifying common complaints that have led to lawsuits will identify areas where your ED might be legally vulnerable. However, dig deeper to uncover all areas of potential legal trouble. Perform chart audits to examine issues such as aggressive use of midlevel practitioners for acute care. Review operational risks, as they could lead to legal problems down the road. Measure how well you are listening to your patients and their families.