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JCAHO has specific guidelines for physicians and hospitals to follow to obtain valid informed consent from a patient. perimed's docUguides^TM were built utilizing JCAHO standards as their backbone. docUguides^TM meet these standards by providing the following information and documentation:

• who will be performing the procedure;
• information about the patient's condition
• the nature of the procedure;
• the procedure's benefits;
• the risks of the procedure;
• the alternatives to the procedure;
• the possible recuperation problems;
• the consequences of refusing the recommended procedure, or any alternative procedure;
• participation of family members in care decisions;
• assessment of patient's capacity to communicate and competency to give consent

The 2 Simple Steps to Success

Step 1:

The patient receives a docUguide^TM for the proposed procedure that has been written by renowned, international physicians, edited for readability, and reviewed by legal counsel.

The docUguide^TM explains the particular procedure in detail, with illustrations, and identifies its benefits and generally recognized risks. It also identifies the alternatives to the procedure and describes the consequences of refusing the recommended procedure or the alternatives to it.

Patients may be given the docUguide^TM ahead of time, when they can read them at their own pace and in the relaxed atmosphere of their own homes. The procedure-specific docUguide^TM helps them to absorb the information and feel comfortable discussing it with their physicians.

Step 2:

The patient returns for the procedure well informed and prepared for an effective discussion with the physician.

Because the docUguide^TM contains the necessary basic information, it allows the physician to concentrate on the individual circumstances of each patient.

docUguides^TM enhance, but do not replace, doctor/patient communication. docUguides^TM provide a way to document that this doctor/patient dialogue has taken place.

The Result:

docUguides^TM educate patients and document their participation in the consent process. This leads to better patient satisfaction before and after procedures and a legally defensible informed consent with reduced malpractice exposure.

While providing a higher quality consultation for the patient and better liability protection for the physician, the use of docUguides^TM take up less of the physician's time.

For more information on how to obtain this innovative service, click here.