NEWPORT, Ark.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- PracticeDefense.com, the nation’s premiere patient background check website, is rapidly becoming the top online destination for physicians and healthcare providers in their plight to protect themselves from potentially problem patients. The website aims to identify patients who target physicians with malicious intent of suing for frivolous malpractice settlements or obtaining prescription drugs for resale or support of an addiction. Reviewed extensively by experts in HIPPA and HITEC laws, the easy-to-use site provides both civil and criminal background checks - exposing litigious patients, as well as leeches of prescription drugs.
Savvy physicians across the nation, particularly surgeons, are using the long-awaited website to probe patient backgrounds, in much the same way that patients scrutinize doctors online. Countless websites allow patients to view reports covering a physician’s education and training; specialties; board certification; and disciplinary actions. Now the tables have turned, according to PracticeDefense.com founder, Dr. Roddy Lochala, a respected family medicine practitioner.
Lochala’s research prior to launching PracticeDefense.com revealed that surgeons in the 75 most populated counties in the country have a 25% chance of being sued yearly. Surgeons of all types, particularly neurosurgeons, plastic surgeons, general surgeons, orthopedic surgeons, and OBGYNS are at much higher risk for frivolous malpractice lawsuits than non-surgeons. Statistically, surgeons can look forward to being sued one out of every 4 years. Even a suit that is dropped costs the physician an average of $17,000 in attorney’s fees, not to mention the lost clinic time, lost wages, mental anguish and potential tarnish of reputation, according to Lochala. Roughly 23% of medical malpractice trials against non-surgeon doctors were won by the plaintiff in the 75 largest counties in the US 2001, while roughly 26.5% of medical malpractice trials against surgeons were won by the plaintiff in the 75 largest counties in the US 2001 (Bureau of Justice Statistics, US Department of Justice). The majority of malpractice suits are “fishing expeditions,” contends Lochala.
While Lochala has never fallen victim to a frivolous suit, he has been conned into prescribing medicine to a patient who was reselling the drugs on the street. “America’s doctors are being pulled into the drug trade, without even knowing it,” states Lochala. Citing the celebrity deaths of Anna Nicole Smith, Heath Ledger, and Michael Jackson, Lochala went on to say that prescription drug abuse has reached epidemic proportions. The investigation into celebrity deaths has cast spotlight on the abuse of prescription drugs and overmedicating of patients - but the problem exceeds more than Hollywood’s A-List. Prescription and illegal drug overdose is the second leading cause of accidental death in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control. Nearly 7 million Americans are abusing prescription drugs, more than the numbers who are abusing cocaine, heroin, hallucinogens and ecstasy combined, according to the Drug Enforcement Administration.
O.J. Simpson’s background records were beta-tested during the development of PracticeDefense.com. “If a prudent physician glanced at O.J.’s criminal records he’d think twice about prescribing him narcotic pain medicine,” says Lochala. Before PracticeDefense.com was developed, a physician had to trust his “gut instincts” when treating a patient, and relied solely on what the patient selected to report during acquisition of routine medical history.
“With the looming healthcare provider shortage in America, we will find more room for legitimately sick patients when we get the deceptive ones out of our offices,” says Lochala. “Think of PracticeDefense.com as the ratemds.com for physicians.”
Photos/Multimedia Gallery Available: http://www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/mmg.cgi?eid=6279407&lang=en
CONTACT:
The Write Publicist & Co.
Regina Lynch-Hudson, 770-998-9911
www.PracticeDefense.com.
KEYWORDS: United States North America Arkansas
INDUSTRY KEYWORDS: Technology Internet Health Hospitals Other Health Professional Services Legal Other Professional Services
MEDIA:
| Logo |
| Photo |
| www.PracticeDefense.com, the nation’s premiere patient background check website, is rapidly becoming the top online destination for physicians and healthcare providers in their plight to protect themselves from potentially problem patients. (Pictured: PracticeDefense.com founder, Dr. Roddy Lochala) Media contact: The Write Publicist & Co. 770.998.9911 (Photo: Business Wire) |