The Digital Witness: Managing Liability in the Era of EMR Scrutiny and Systemic Strain
September 23 at 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
Session Summary
In today’s litigious climate, the defense of medical professional liability claims has moved beyond the actions of the individual provider to the scrutiny of the broader organizational system. This session explores the “new frontline” of MPL defense: the nexus between operational strain and the electronic medical record (EMR). Plaintiffs’ counsel are increasingly weaponizing digital evidence, using audit trails, metadata, and internal communications to construct narratives of systemic neglect and organizational failure.
This 45-minute presentation will provide risk managers with a deep dive into the modern litigation landscape, demonstrating how the digital footprint of a facility can serve as either a critical liability or a strong defensive shield. Real-world case studies will help identify common documentation gaps created by operational pressure, along with strategies for establishing “EMR hygiene” that withstands cross-examination.
Attendees will leave with an actionable roadmap to align clinical risk mitigation efforts with legal defense posture, ensuring that when system-wide strain occurs, the organization’s documentation tells a defensible, accurate, and protected story.
Learning Objectives:
Upon completion of this session, participants will:
- Analyze the Evolving Liability Landscape: Assess the shift in plaintiff litigation strategy from provider-specific negligence to system-level liability, particularly where operational strain (staffing shortages, delays) is cited as a causal factor for adverse outcomes.
- Decipher Digital Evidence: Examine how audit trails, time-stamped metadata, and internal digital logs function as decisive evidence in modern malpractice trials, often becoming the focal point of high-severity claims.
- Fortify Organizational Defensibility: Develop proactive audit and documentation protocols to ensure that, when operational strain impacts clinical outcomes, the organization’s digital footprint and internal documentation remain defensible and accurate.
Speaker:
Bio:
Justin Pruett is a seasoned legal and claims executive with over 15 years of experience specializing in high-severity Medical Professional Liability (MPL) claims and complex litigation strategy. A strategic partner to enterprise risk departments, he bridges the gap between strategic intent and disciplined operational execution, ensuring that claims handling stays aligned with broader clinical risk mitigation goals and long-term financial health.
He currently serves as Director of Claims and Litigation at Ascension Health, where he leads a team of 21 and drives enterprise defense strategy, process standardization, and internal quality assurance. Across his work with HCA Healthcare and Ascension, he has provided daily consultative risk guidance to risk managers across more than 50 facilities, helping connect clinical data, legal strategy, and risk reduction efforts across complex, multi-jurisdictional environments.
In addition to his professional work, Justin serves on the Bridgewater College Board of Trustees and has held nonprofit board leadership roles focused on workforce readiness and community equity. He holds a Juris Doctorate from Roger Williams University School of Law and resides in Santa Rosa, CA.
Date: Wednesday, September 23, 2026
Time: 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM (PST)
Cost: $20 for Members | $35 for Non-Members
Register Today!
SCAHRM is pending approval by the California State Bar as an MCLE Multiple Activity Provider (MAP #18946) and a Continuing Education Provider by the California Board of Nursing (CEP #10552).
This activity is approved for 1.0 MCLE credit hour and 1.0 BRN continuing education contact hours. This meeting is pending approval for a total of 1.0 contact hour of Continuing Education Credit toward fulfillment of the requirements for ASHRM designations of FASHRM (Fellow) and DFASHRM (Distinguished Fellow) and for CPHRM renewal.
Please note: No refunds are given for cancellation or non-attendance. If you have registered for this event and are unable to attend, please contact SCAHRM at [email protected] or [email protected] at least 24 hours prior to the event.
