The Risk Management Consultation Service

The Risk Management Consultation Service (RMCS) is a value-added service for Program participants. The RMCS provides toll-free access to risk management advice and guidance.

If you are currently a participant in The Program, simply log in to For Participants Only and visit the RMCS page in the Risk Management section for contact information. Psychiatric risk management specialists are available Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m.- 5:30 p.m. EST. You may also submit your question through the For Participants Only site 24 hours a day.

If you are not a participant in The Program please contact (800) 245-3333, ext. 389 or TheProgram@prms.com for more information.

The RMCS staff regularly responds to a broad range of questions, such as:

· I am seeing a patient who is a minor. One of his parents is requesting information which I am uncomfortable releasing. What can I do?
· How do I properly document a patient’s informed consent?
· What should be included in an information release authorization?
· A patient recently committed suicide, and her distraught family is now calling me. What can I tell them?
· How long do I have to keep my records?
· I have just received a subpoena for patient records in a lawsuit, which does not involve me. Do I have to comply? If so, how do I comply without breaching confidentiality?
· How do I end a physician-patient relationship when the patient doesn’t want to end treatment with me?
· How do I respond to a request for information from my licensing board about a patient who filed a complaint?
· I share office space with others. Should I be doing anything more to reduce my risk of being sued by my office mate’s patient?

We encourage Program participants to contact us whenever a request or situation is troubling them, or raising questions or concerns. No question is insignificant or frivolous, but there are significant questions that are not asked. These unasked questions may increase risk. In fact, the greatest risk may lie in not asking.