Correctional health care providers face unique challenges when handling varying types of ?difficult? patients. Whether the patient is known not to follow medical advice, appears to be drug-seeking, is known to be litigious, or is already suing the provider, health care professionals must patiently navigate their interactions to provide appropriate care and avoid any perception of deliberate indifference. Best practices for handling difficult interactions, charting of those interactions, and testifying regarding care will be discussed.

• Describe ways to reduce legal exposure when caring for "difficult" patients
• Review methods for charting patient encounters to provide optimal references in a lawsuit
• Discuss how to handle discovery and depositions in a lawsuit

Level: Basic