AHLA Offers Practical Toolkit For Managing Healthcare Conflicts

     Before you head off for the long Thanksgiving weekend, consider signing up for a teleconference to be held next Tuesday that you might otherwise miss in the post holiday crush.  The American Health Lawyers Association (“AHLA”), through its ADR Task Force, is offering “A Practical Toolkit for Managing Healthcare Conflict” from 3:00 to 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time on December 2, 2008.  You can read the full description of the program and sign up on the AHLA\’s website.  It is open to AHLA members and non-members.

      Presumably, the teleconference will be based on the “Practical Toolkit for Managing Healthcare Conflict” just published by the AHLA, which is available as a PDF on the AHLA website.  This document is a good summary of the need for conflict management in the healthcare (particularly hospital) setting, and provides a framework for hospital management to approach conflict management comprehensively.  It also addresses the specific requirements for internal hospital conflict resolution processes mandated by the Joint Commission.

     No doubt the current economic crisis affecting hospitals in New Jersey and throughout the country  will only make conflict more prevalent and important to manage.  It will be interesting to see whether some of the suggestions made in the AHLA\’s toolkit, which will carry a new and significant price tag, will gain traction.  I believe what they say about “an ounce of prevention” applies here, but those with the checkbooks may need more convincing. 

     Joining in to hear this program would be a step in the right direction.

[Image: A toolbox, by Per Erik Standberg, May 13, 2006]