Risk Management Resources

Risk management discussion papers, sample informed consent forms, practice protocols and useful links to anesthesia literature are available exclusively to our policyholders. The forms below are available for download in Microsoft WORD (.doc) and Adobe PDF formats. The WORD file will allow you to customize the form for your specific practice. To preview the form only, use PDF.

Discussion Papers

The Risk Management Newsletter for Anesthesiologists. Learn about the latest risk management trends and read about recent jury verdicts. Read the current issue of Anesthesia & the Law.

• Contractual Indemnity and Hold Harmless Agreements...[PDF]
• Minimizing Dental Losses...[PDF]
• Informed Consent: The Verdict Is In...[PDF]
• A Patient’s Right to Refuse Medical Treatment...[PDF]
• Vaginal Birth after Cesarean (VBAC)...[PDF]
• What Events Should be Reported to PPM...[PDF]
• Performing or Countersigning the Surgical History and Physical...[PDF]
• Defense Counsel Guidelines...[PDF]
• Claims Handling Guidelines – Instructions & Recommendations...[PDF]

PPM Recommended Informed Consent Forms

Informed consent forms referenced below have been specifically reviewed and endorsed for general use by PPM. Like any form or protocol, these protocols should be tailored to your specific practice and the laws of the state in which you practice. PPM's in-house legal staff can provide you with guidance in this regard.

• Anesthesia Care Team...[WORD -- PDF]
• Anesthesia Care Team-Short Form...[WORD -- PDF]
• Anesthesia Care Team-Sedation...[WORD -- PDF]
• Anesthesia Care Team-Training Programs...[WORD -- PDF]
• Anesthesia Care Team-Teaching Facilities...[WORD -- PDF]
• Anesthesia Care Team Teaching / Training...[WORD -- PDF]
• Anesthesia Care Team-Spanish...[WORD -- PDF]
• Anesthesia Care Team-Invasive Monitoring...[WORD -- PDF]
• Anesthesia Group-Physician Only...[WORD -- PDF]
• Regional Blocks Under General/Sedation...[WORD -- PDF]
• Informed Consent VBAC...[WORD -- PDF]

Sample Informed Consent Forms

PPM Policyholders are encouraged to share practice protocols and policies that address significant areas of concern to today's anesthesia practice. PPM will review submitted policies and protocols and will make them available to other PPM policyholders upon obtaining the permission of the individuals or facilities authoring the document. Any protocol or policy submitted to PPM in this regard will be re-formatted for consistency with this site.

• Sample Informed Consent Labor Epidural...[WORD -- PDF]
• Sample Informed Consent Eye Surgery Anesthetic...[WORD -- PDF]
• Regional Anesthesia/Post Operative Pain Management Informed Consent (contributor, Atlantic Anesthesia Inc.)...[WORD -- PDF]
• Sample Informed Consent-Pain Management Procedure...[WORD -- PDF]
• Sample Informed Consent-Neurolytic Nerve Block...[WORD -- PDF]
• Sample Informed Consent-Narcotic Infusion Pump...[WORD -- PDF]
• Sample Informed Consent-Epidural Neurolysis...[WORD -- PDF]
• Sample Informed Consent-Palliative Treatment...[WORD -- PDF]
• Sample Informed Consent-Pediatric Anesthesia (contributor, First Colonies Anesthesia Associates LLC)...[WORD -- PDF]

Policies and Practice Protocols

PPM Policyholders are encouraged to share practice protocols and policies that address significant areas of concern to today's anesthesia practice. PPM will review submitted policies and protocols and will make them available to other PPM policyholders upon obtaining the permission of the individuals or facilities authoring the document. Any protocol or policy submitted to PPM in this regard will be re-formatted for consistency with this site.

• The Joint Commission on Universal Protocol for Preventing Wrong Site, Wrong Procedure, and Wrong Person Surgery™ ...[LINK]
• ASA Advisory for the Prevention and Management of Intraoperative Fires...[LINK]
• Operating Room Fire Prevention Protocol (contributor, Anesthesia Services Medical Group of Topeka)...[WORD -- PDF]
• The Joint Commission on Preventing Surgical Fires...[LINK]
• Anesthesiology: Intraoperative Burns Secondary to Warmed IV Bags: A Warning...[LINK]
• Bair-Hugger™ Stop Hosing website...[LINK]
• Sample Pain Management Agreement...[WORD -- PDF]
• Sample Regional Anesthesia Procedure Record...[WORD -- PDF]
• Narcotics Agreement
• Discharge of Patient Letter...[WORD -- PDF]
• Pre-operative Pregnancy Testing Waiver...[WORD -- PDF]
• Antibiotic Administration Guidelines...[WORD -- PDF]
• Obstructive Sleep Apnea...[WORD -- PDF]
• Spinal Drain Protocol...[WORD -- PDF]

Self-Study Course

The self-study course highlights significant areas of anesthesia risks, identifies areas of preventable anesthesia complications and provides practical risk management tips for both improving patient safety and reducing the risk of adverse patient outcomes.

• Anesthesia & the Law: Issue 12 - Preventable Anesthesia Malpractice Claims...[PDF]
• Anesthesia & the Law: Issue 14 - Postoperative Vision Loss...[PDF]
• Risk Management Guidelines: VBAC...[PDF]
• Risk Management Guidelines: Working with Podiatrists...[PDF]
• Risk Management Guidelines: Minimizing Dental Losses...[PDF]
• Anesthesia & the Law: Issue 16 - Informed Consent...[PDF]
• Self-Study Course, Quiz and Evaluation...[PDF]

Useful Links

• American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA)...[LINK]
• Anesthesia Patient Safety Foundation (APSF)...[LINK]
• Foundation for Anesthesia Education and Research (FAER)...[LINK]
• The Joint Commission...[LINK]