Getting Informed Consent Before you engage in dialogue about a patient’s health and the care you’ll be giving, it’s crucial to get your patients’ informed consent. Informed consent means you discussed the advantages and the risks of the care you will provide and gives the patient the opportunity to discuss alternatives. Most health care facilities obtain the informed consent of their patients by way of a signed agreement that is completed with enrollment paperwork. It’s a simple task, and an important one that can defend you in a malpractice case. Stay Current To stay “in business” you’re required to maintain your license through continued education, training and testing. But there’s a whole world of medicine outside of your specialty, much of which is readily accessible to the public. Make sure to stay informed about the health care industry as a whole. You’ll be positioned to answer questions your patients may ask of you, building their confidence in you. Plus, you’ll be a well-versed representative in your medical community, something a jury will look upon with favor.