Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Massachusetts General Hospital and Baystate Health are among three major health systems that are testing a "disclosure, apology and offer" process, making legal action a last resort, the Massachusetts Medical Society announced last month. Under this alternative model, when unanticipated adverse outcomes occur, institutions, healthcare professionals and their insurers disclose that information to the patient and family. They then investigate and explain why it happened and establish systems to improve patient safety and reporting. When appropriate, they apologize and offer fair financial compensation without the patient having to take legal action. --Read the full article from FierceHealthcare