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ForwardLitigation Lessons for Physicians: Preventing and Navigating Malpractice Claims
LIVE IN-PERSON AND VIRTUAL COURSE
This course equips physicians with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to manage malpractice risk proactively and respond effectively when faced with a potential or actual claim. Participants will learn strategies to prevent lawsuits through accurate documentation, informed consent, and clear communication. The course also addresses best practices for responding to adverse events, including objective documentation, empathetic disclosure, and timely engagement with institutional risk management and legal counsel. By mastering these competencies, physicians will reduce liability exposure, maintain patient trust, and support transparent, compliant resolution processes.
Please join us for this live, in-person and virtual educational session.
Target Audience
This activity is designed for Children's Hospital Colorado physicians and advanced practice providers across all specialties who may encounter malpractice risk in their clinical practice. It is also relevant for advanced practice providers and healthcare professionals involved in patient care, documentation, and communication following adverse events. Risk management and institutional leaders may also benefit from understanding best practices for supporting clinicians during the claims process.
Learning Objectives
Identify common causes of medical malpractice claims and analyze how clinical decision-making and documentation practices contribute to legal risk.
Describe key strategies for preventing malpractice lawsuits, including effective communication, informed consent, and risk management protocols.
Recognize the stages of a malpractice lawsuit, from initial complaint through resolution, and understand the roles of legal counsel and expert witnesses.
Demonstrate appropriate responses when faced with a potential or actual malpractice claim, including documentation, communication, and institutional reporting.
Horizontal Tabs
Time | Segment | Purpose & Key Takeaways | Speakers |
5:00–5:10 | Welcome & Objectives | Set expectations; highlight learning objectives and participation format. Introduce CU and CHCO Risk and Legal Teams and explain role in malpractice process. | Patrick O’Rourke Bryan Storey |
5:10–5:20 | Preventing Claims: Bedside Manner, Documentation, & Informed Consent Essentials | High‑impact charting practices; informed consent standards and documentation dos/don’ts. | Bryan Storey CHCO and CU Risk Teams |
5:20–5:30 | Responding to Adverse Events | Objective documentation, empathetic disclosure, and timely reporting to risk/legal. | Bryan Storey CHCO and CU Risk Teams |
5:30–5:50 | Navigating the Claims Process: From Complaint to Resolution Settlement and Reporting (DORA, NPDB) | Stages of litigation, roles of counsel/expert witnesses, preservation of evidence, pitfalls to avoid. | Steve Pozefsky |
5:50-6:10 | Mock Physician Cross‑Examination (Live Demonstration) | Simulated courtroom cross focusing on consent, charting gaps, and/or communication. Debrief on what helped/hurt. | Patrick O’Rourke David Brumbaugh |
6:10–6:25 | Panel Discussion & Interactive Q&A with CHCO and CU Risk and Legal | Case scenarios from participants; practical tips to reduce exposure and maintain patient trust. | CHCO and CU Legal and Risk Teams |
6:25–6:30 | Wrap‑Up, Key Resources & Next Steps | Summarize takeaways, point to institutional policies, evaluation, and follow‑up materials. | Group |
David Brumbaugh, MD, MSCS, FAAP
Professor of Pediatrics
Section of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition
University of Colorado School of Medicine
Chief Medical Officer
Children’s Hospital Colorado
Aurora, Colorado
Patrick O’Rourke, JD
Senior Vice President and Chief Legal Officer
Children’s Hospital Colorado
Aurora, Colorado
Adjunct Faculty
School of Law
University of Colorado
Boulder, Colorado
Steven Pozefsky, JD
Associate General Counsel
Children’s Hospital Colorado
Aurora, Colorado
Adjunct Professor of Health Law
University of Denver
Denver, Colorado
Bryan J. Storey, CPHRM, ARM, RMIS-CRMP, MPH, MPA
Vice President of Risk Management
Chief Risk Officer
Children's Hospital Colorado
Aurora, Colorado
Children’s Hospital Colorado is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians.
Available Credit
- 1.50 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™
- 1.50 Attendance
- 1.50 Approved AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™