Author: Chris Baxter

Medical professionals are some of the most well-educated and highly skilled workers, but that doesn’t mean mistakes don’t happen. That’s why many choose malpractice insurance should something go wrong that leaves them liable.

Like all medical professionals, physician assistants need malpractice insurance, and our explainer will break down the key reasons why.

Nobody’s Perfect

Although highly skilled and educated, physician assistants (PAs) are still human, which means they’re not perfect. PAs make mistakes at work like anyone else at their job, including other medical professionals.

Hospitals and medical facilities ask PAs to do a lot, from ordering tests to examining patients and administering treatments. Even the best PAs can have the occasional slip-up. The difference is that when mistakes happen, there can be dire consequences that result in suffering or even death. Errors are often inconsequential, but PAs need insurance to protect their financial future and career when oversights have more profound effects.

Increased Responsibility

PAs operate in a crucial but unique area of healthcare, performing many of the same duties that would fall to a certified physician. Initially, PAs originated in communities that lacked doctors or were overrun with too many patients for the local physicians to handle.

Over the decades into the 21^st century, PAs have taken on more responsibilities to offset shortages in physicians and nurses. With more responsibilities and duties, PAs are often stretched to their limit, making them more susceptible to mistakes.

Claims Are on the Rise

Although they may not be the target for as many malpractice claims as physicians, PAs still get sued and have been named as defendants more often recently. Studies show that between 2017 and 2019, PAs were targeted in malpractice litigation over 200 times every year, which is a substantial increase from earlier figures, which were around 70 in the year 2000.

Malpractice insurance for health professionals like PAs is essential to ensure that their career and financial future aren’t ruined by one mistake and malpractice claim. Monetary compensation for a successful claim can reach six figures, and without proper insurance, PAs and medical professionals can be left to pay that sum themselves.

Clearly, physician assistants need malpractice insurance as much as physicians and medical professionals do. PAs need to ensure their future is protected.

Whether your chiropractic practice is brand-new or has been around for years, there’s always room for improvement. We’ve put together four helpful pointers to help improve your chiropractic practice, including business advice and tips for patient interaction.

Continue reading 4 Pointers To Help Improve Your Chiropractic Practice

If you need medical malpractice liability insurance, finding the right policy can be a challenge. When you’re not familiar with basic terms of malpractice insurance, it can all be a confusing blur.

In our guide, “Malpractice Insurance 101: What To Look For When Buying,” we’ll go through the crucial terms and policies that medical professionals should know when choosing an insurance carrier and coverage.

Occurrence vs. Claims-Made Policies

There are two types of professional liability coverage for medical professionals: occurrence and claims-made policies. Each policy has its benefits and disadvantages, so we’ll break down the vital info you need to know before deciding.

Occurrence Policies

Occurrence policies cover incidents during the policy period regardless of when the plaintiff files the claim. Essentially, no matter when the claim is filed, an occurrence policy covers events that occurred during the policy period, even if your policy is expired or terminated.

For example, suppose you had an occurrence policy in 2017 that expired in 2020. Then, in 2022, a malpractice claim is filed against you for an incident in 2017. Even though your policy has expired, you’d still be covered because the claim is for an incident that occurred during the coverage.

Pros

The primary benefit of occurrence coverage is that you don’t have to worry about your policy expiring to maintain your protection. If you plan on only working in the medical field for a few years before moving on to something else or retiring, occurrence coverage could be your best option, as it doesn’t require extended coverage when the policy expires.

Over time, the total costs of occurrence coverage balance out to about the same as a claims-made policy.

Cons

Occurrence coverage is not as standard as claims-made policies because it’s challenging for insurers to estimate claims costs years or decades after a policy expires. Occurrence policies are also typically more expensive for the first couple of years until the policy reaches maturity.

Claims-Made Policies

As opposed to an occurrence policy, a claims-made policy only covers the insured for incidents that happen while the policy is still active. Once the policy is terminated, so is the coverage, unless additional “tail” or “nose” coverage is purchased afterward.

In the same example of a claim filing before, a claims-made policy would not cover an incident that occurred years prior if the coverage is no longer active, even if the incident happened while the policy was in force.

Pros

Claims-made policies are much more common than occurrence ones and are typically less expensive in the initial years of coverage. The lower premiums allow the insured to have more cash flow, so they’re generally popular with businesses and facilities.

Cons

The disadvantage of a claims-made policy is that it’s only effective when still active. The insured must keep up with the policy to ensure that there are no gaps in coverage. Once the coverage expires, tail or nose coverage is recommended to ensure you’re still protected from future litigation.

Tail vs. Nose Coverage for Claims-Made Policies

Tail and nose coverage are both additions to claims-made policies and refer to extended coverage of the insured once a policy expires. We’ll explain what each policy means and how they’re different.

Tail Coverage

A tail policy covers incidents that happened when the insured had an active claims-made policy, but a claim was not filed until the policy’s expiration. For example, if you’re sued for an incident that occurred years prior while working but have since retired and therefore don’t have an active policy, tail coverage will still see you’re protected.

If you plan to take a leave of absence, retire, switch employers, or change your insurance, tail coverage will ensure there are no gaps in your coverage.

Nose Coverage

A nose policy, also known as “prior acts,” functions similarly to a tail policy, but instead, it’s an alternative if you’re purchasing coverage from a new insurance carrier. A nose policy covers any claim before your new policy activates, but after your previous policy expires.

Typically, nose coverage is more affordable than tail coverage, but every individual policy differs. It can be confusing to differentiate the two policies; a simple way to tell them apart is knowing that tail coverage comes from your old insurance carrier, while nose coverage comes from your new one.

Individual vs. Group Policies

Along with occurrence and claims-made policies, you’ll also choose between an individual and group policy. The two types of policies are very distinct, so we’ll break down what you need to know for each.

Individual Policies

An individual policy is what it sounds like—a policy purchased by an individual which covers them, and them alone.

Pros

The primary benefit of an individual policy is the control it offers—you would control the proof of insurance, and you don’t need to rely on an employer to verify your coverage. Individual policies are especially beneficial if you move onto another employer or retire, and a claim comes up years later.

As the holder of an individual policy, you’re still covered when working at a new job, at an additional job, or when volunteering. Plus, as an individual policyholder, you don’t have to worry about possible conflicts of interest in a group policy.

Cons

You don’t have to rely on others in an individual policy, but you also don’t have the same strength in numbers. There is no limit of liability in an individual policy as you don’t share coverage with other employees. Typically, individual policies are more expensive than group policies.

Group Policies

Group medical practice liability insurance is when all hospital, clinic, or other facility employees are covered by the same policy together. Some employers require that their employees join the group liability insurance to work at the facility.

Pros

Employers favor group policies as they make claims and litigation more streamlined. A single attorney represents all employees to manage the suit instead of numerous parties each negotiating, allowing for a more streamlined process.

Cons

As an employee, a group policy means that you’ll have less control than an individual policy. It also won’t cover you when you work outside your direct employers, such as an additional job or volunteer work.

If you are part of a group policy, you should:

• Procure a copy of the entire policy, or at least the certificate of insurance
• Verify you’re listed by name on the policy
• Understand if it’s an occurrence or a claims-made policy
• Obtain copies of the policy every year (even after you’ve left the employer)

Insurance Carriers and What To Look For

Once you’ve decided what type of policy best suits you, it’s time to browse the many insurance carriers available. If you’re joining a group policy, you won’t have a choice, but you’ll have many options if you’re hunting for an individual policy.

While researching, it’s essential to evaluate the carrier’s financial strength. Independent agencies such as A.M. Best & Company rate insurance carriers on grades such as Excellent and Good. Avoid any company with a rating below Excellent, even if it means saving a few dollars.

Medical liability insurance is tricky for people to understand, but we hope our guide on what to look for when buying malpractice insurance has helped make malpractice insurance easier to understand.

If you’re a CRNA or any medical professional, you understand medical malpractice claims can financially damage you and take up your time. CRNAs have an essential job with life-and-death stakes, which means they can find themselves targets of litigation when negative outcomes occur.

Our detailed guide looks at how often malpractice claims name CRNAs, the legal requirements for malpractice claims, and the three most common CRNA malpractice claims.

Do CRNAs Get Sued?

Yes, Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) sometimes come under litigation with accusations of medical malpractice. CRNAs have a lot of responsibility in monitoring and aiding in administering anesthesia, which is almost always safe but can give rise to dangerous complications that can cause severe complications and even death.

When working in any position that sometimes has adverse outcomes that result in injury or death, litigation is likely to follow, even if the anesthesiologists and CRNAs performed their duties correctly. It’s one of the challenges that CRNAs face in their profession.

Is it common for CRNAs to be Named in Malpractice Lawsuits?

CRNAs are often named in malpractice lawsuits.  Now that CRNAs have more autonomy, they are often responsible for creating and implementing an anesthesia and treatment plan, so much of the responsibility falls on them.

Do CRNAs Get Sued More Often Than Others?

Relative to other medical professions, malpractice claims don’t target CRNAs substantially more than similar positions. But there is a belief that the rate at which CRNAs face malpractice claims could rise. Unfortunately, it’s due to one of the benefits of the job.

Recently, CRNAs have been given more autonomy in their profession, which means that it’s common for CRNAs to practice independently. Independence benefits CRNAs, but it also makes them more solely liable for mistakes and complications. CRNA liability insurance is crucial for CRNAs, especially if they operate an independent practice.

Legal Requirements for Medical Malpractice Claims and Litigation

Before a medical malpractice claim can move forward in litigation toward resolution, it must first pass some legal requirements. The following are the primary legal hurdles a medical malpractice claim has to clear to continue.

Violation of Standard Medical Care

A patient has rights, including informed consent and an expectation from the CRNA to follow standard and safe medical care. A medical malpractice claim has to prove that a patient’s medical care from a CRNA, or any medical professional, deviated from or violated standard medical care.

They’re vague terms, but omission and negligence are the two commonly used standards for violating standard care. So either the CRNA purposely omitted medical care, for whatever reason, or they neglected the patient, either intentionally or unintentionally. Neglect is ultimately the most common reasoning, especially when dealing with malpractice claims related to overworking or exhaustion.

Serious Injury or Damage

If a claim clears the first hurdle, it then has to show that the patient suffered from severe injury or damage. Now, how serious is a serious injury? That’s a tricky legal question, but it doesn’t include a small scratch from a fingernail.

Some of the terms malpractice claims use are suffering, hardship, pain, disability, significant medical bills, loss of income, and sometimes death. A medical malpractice claim has to prove the patient went through one of these damages to continue litigation; if no damage is shown or considered, the lawsuit does not continue.

Injury Caused Due to Violation of Medical Care

The final legal hurdle is for the malpractice claim to show that the first factor caused the second factor. Essentially, the patient suffered damage because of a deviation from the standard medical care of the defendant.

It’s not enough that a claim shows there was a deviation of standard care, and there were also damages; the claim has to prove that one caused the other. Unfavorable outcomes are not enough to file malpractice claims if it’s deemed the professionals administered proper medical care, but a negative result happened anyway.

Likewise, a malpractice claim won’t go forward simply because of a violation of standard care if no significant injury is proven. For a claim to be successful, it has to prove all three factors.

3 Most Common CRNA Malpractice Claims

We know what makes up a malpractice claim, but what are the most common claims against CRNAs? Every case is different, but some of the most common issues follow these general trends.

Sub-Par Performance of Procedures

Many medical malpractice claims leveled against CRNAs regard the application of specific procedures including, but not limited to, anesthesia and intubation. For instance, many CRNAs are also airway experts, which means that they commonly intubate patients before a procedure or even in emergencies.

Intubation is a standard procedure, but mistakes happen, and intubation errors can result in significant injury and death. If, for example, a CRNA intubating a patient misses the windpipe, the resulting complications can result in brain injury or death, more so if it’s an emergency procedure.

Poor Monitoring of Patients

Perhaps the most common reason for a medical malpractice claim against CRNAs is the pre- and post-procedure monitoring of patients. If a CRNA doesn’t check up on their patients regularly, complications can quickly grow and lead to more extensive damages and injuries for the patient.

It’s common to see this complaint in a facility dealing with understaffed departments where facilities task CRNAs with monitoring too many patients. An emergency happens with one patient that the CRNA has to tend to, leaving other patients vulnerable for extended periods.

Suffering From Improper Positioning

During a surgical procedure that uses anesthesia, the anesthesiologist and CRNA are responsible for positioning the patient for the procedure so that it doesn’t harm the patient.

If, for instance, a patient is positioned on their side with most of their weight on their elbow for hours, it could lead to damage to their ulnar nerve, also known as the funny bone. It may seem simple, but improper positioning by the anesthesiologist or CRNA could lead to long-term nerve damage for patients.

Those are three of the most common CRNA malpractice claims, but there are still many more varieties of claims. Medical professionals have much to deal with, but with proper liability insurance, they can do their jobs without fear of improper medical claims that can waste their time and money.

You can get a CRNA malpractice insurance quote from Baxter & Associates today. Contact us to learn more about how we can protect your best interests so you can continue to help patients and grow in your career.

Nurse practitioners are vital to the healthcare industry as they work directly with doctors and patients. As well-trained and educated as any nurse is, errors can still happen. We’ve compiled some of the most common mistakes to avoid for nurse practitioners to give professionals an idea of typical errors that arise.

Medication Administration Errors

The most common malpractice claims against nurse practitioners (NPs) have to do with medication administration. NPs administer medicine to patients countless times every day, so it’s not unlikely that mistakes are made regarding the amount of medication, the type of medication, or even medication administered to the wrong patient.

Whether you’re a new nurse or a veteran, mistakes happen, so having a malpractice insurance plan for nurse practitioners is crucial. NPs recommend highlighting the patient’s conditions and the essential information to ensure they receive the proper medication. Also, double-check the chart and documentation to ensure the medication list is updated accurately.

Causing Infections

One of the starkest dangers facing patients is infection. As NPs come into close contact with so many patients regularly, they carry the potential of spreading bacteria and causing infections.

Infections are persistent, so NPs can never be careless when it comes to personal hygiene and equipment sanitation. Every NP already knows this, but it’s crucial to emphasize infection prevention, even if the practices become repetitive.

Improper Documentation

Documentation is another common area where NPs can make errors. NPs are responsible for filling out a lot of paperwork, so it’s not surprising that mistakes can happen or their handwriting becomes illegible to others.

The best advice NPs have to offer is to fill out documentation promptly, write as clearly as possible, and pay extra attention to the details. A misread chart or improperly filed documentation can lead to severe consequences for the patient.

Patients Falling

NPs are responsible for the health and safety of patients most of the time, including protecting them from themselves. One of the most common hospital injuries is when patients attempt to move or get out of bed and fall.

NPs can’t physically restrain all of their patients, obviously, but they should always try to watch their patients. Explain to them the dangers of overestimating their strength and trying to move before their body is ready.

Nurses have many responsibilities and duties to complete every day, so the occasional error happens. But, keep an eye on these common mistakes to avoid for nurse practitioners, and you’ll improve your job performance and better legally protect yourself.

Advancing your career is a challenge, no matter what industry you’re in. It takes many years of education and training to become a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA), so once you’ve made it, you want to do everything you can to protect and grow your career. If you’re looking for advice, check out these helpful CRNA career tips you should know.

Network With Other CRNAs

No matter what industry you’re in—whether it’s healthcare, service, financial, or anything else—networking with other professionals is a good idea. The American Association of Nurse Anesthetists (AANA) and other nursing organizations frequently host conferences, workshops, and other events that are excellent opportunities for CRNAs to increase their network.

What better resource is there to offer advice and consultation on your career than other professionals who have gone through or are experiencing the same challenges as you?

Get Protected

If you haven’t already, CRNA malpractice insurance is an absolute necessity. A medical malpractice claim can quickly ruin a CRNA’s career and financial situation without proper insurance. Accidents and misunderstandings happen, and if you’re not adequately protected, your career that you’ve worked so hard for can be severely damaged.

Work With a Recruiter

Working with a staffing partner offers many advantages if you’re on the hunt for a new position in a new facility. Recruiters have more resources and a more extensive network to work with, which means more opportunities for you to consider.

Even if you’re not actively looking for a new placement, it’s still worthwhile to keep yourself appraised of open positions and your possible options. Sometimes, the opportunity you’ve always been looking for appears when you’re not searching for it.

Consider Traveling

A growing trend in the healthcare industry and with nurses is travel placements. Staff shortages during the pandemic forced many facilities to use travel nurses—professionals from other parts of the country relocated to fill in on staff temporarily.

If you feel like you’re in a rut and want to experiment with different locations and facilities, taking a travel placement is an excellent opportunity. Travel nurses typically earn a higher wage and are compensated for housing and relocation. Maybe your temporary placement will turn permanent!

We hope that these helpful CRNA career tips you should know have given you something to think about with your career. It’s an interesting time for nurses and the healthcare industry, so keep your eyes and ears open as you never know when or where career opportunities will present themselves.

The world of nursing is quite expansive, which can feel overwhelming for those unfamiliar with the territory. There are plenty of nursing opportunities with varying educational and experience requirements. Here are the most common types of nurses and what they do.

Nurse Practitioner

Nurse Practitioners—or NPs—work at the highest level of the nursing profession. These healthcare workers can manage and treat acute and chronic health problems. Since NPs work at such an advanced tier, they usually have a Master of Science in Nursing. Furthermore, due to the increased exposure to patients and their treatment, a malpractice insurance plan for nurse practitioners is a must.

Nurse Practitioners can specialize in one of several areas, including emergency nursing, family practice, gerontology, neonatology, gynecology, pediatrics, etc. As primary and specialty providers, they perform many of the same job duties as physicians.

Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist

Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists are the people who administer anesthesia to patients before procedures and monitor their status during and after the medical operation. Because anesthesia is such a nuanced and delicate science, CRNAs must have thorough education and certification to enter the medical workforce. We have some tips for you on how to find a job as a nurse anesthetist. 

Knowing the most common types of nurses and what they do can help aspiring medical professionals choose the right career track. Just bear in mind that nurse practitioners need medical malpractice insurance. For more information on coverage, reach out to us at Baxter & Associates today. 

Chiropractors help people live better and more comfortable lives every day, but etiquette and bedside manner are also critical for a chiropractor’s success. Ahead, we’ll go over the etiquette every chiropractor should follow, from pre-treatment to post-treatment.

Chiropractor Etiquette—Pre-Treatment

The time you spend with a patient in the pre-treatment phase is crucial to building a rapport and establishing your credibility. This can determine how well the treatment will proceed and how effective it’ll be, as well as how confident the patient is moving forward. With the right information, you can avoid the common mistakes new chiropractors make.

Before treatment, keep the following tips and guidelines in mind.

Don’t Keep Them Waiting

Remember that your patient’s time is just as important as yours. We understand that you want to be as thorough and attentive as possible with every patient, but the most common complaint patients have against doctors is wait time.

Communication and treatment always come first, but you’ll attract patients and retain them the more punctual you are with their appointments.

Have Them Lead the Communication

Communication is difficult for some patients, and it often falls on the chiropractor to open up clear lines of communication and coax information out of the patient. Remember that patients aren’t as familiar with treatment options or even ailments, so they may struggle to describe their pain or problem accurately.

Lead them along with questions so they’re the ones driving the conversation. Make sure you’re listening actively—patients will be able to tell if you aren’t.

Show Confidence and Authority

As a chiropractor, you have lots of education and training behind your treatment, but a patient may not immediately be confident in your skills. Before treatment begins, demonstrate your expertise to establish an authority on the subject and ease the patient’s mind.

When you talk to the patient, be clear and precise about why they may be feeling pain and discuss the treatment options to consider. Patients want to be heard, but they also need to know they’re in good hands.

Sympathize and Listen

When the patient describes their pain or ailments, focus on and listen to what they’re saying and how they’re saying it. Don’t interrupt them or look distracted as you take notes.

Sympathize with their pain and show the patient that you understand them. Above all else, patients want to feel that there is someone else who understands what they’re going through and knows how to fix it. Empathizing helps make the patient more comfortable opening up and communicating with you. Ignoring bedside manner is one of the mistakes new chiropractors make, but it will cost you clients in the long run.

Empower the Patient

When patients enter your office, they’re probably a little frightened and feel powerless to fix whatever is ailing them. You can put their minds at ease by empowering them with knowledge.

After discussing their problem, walk them through the possible reason for their ailments and pain so that they can better understand their body. Explain the steps to the treatment and thoroughly explain their options in layman’s terms.

People feel better when they know what they’re facing. Help make them feel like a partner in their treatment instead of a passenger to your expertise.

Chiropractor Etiquette During Treatment

You’ve sat and talked with the patient and come up with a treatment, either for that day or for a future appointment—now, it’s time for the actual treatment. Improve your bedside manner and relationship with your patient by following these tips.

Keep Communication Open

While the patient is undergoing treatment, you want to continue to build upon the communication and rapport you created in the pre-treatment session. Walk the patient through what you’ll be doing, why this treatment is best, and what they can expect during and after the treatment.

Ask for feedback from the patient as the treatment moves along, gauging their comfort and pain levels regularly. As you use specific techniques, explain them to the patient and ensure that they approve of them. If the patient doesn’t approve, have alternative approaches ready.

Also, it’s good to have some usual chitchat during the procedure. It helps put the patient’s mind at ease if you look and sound confident in what you’re doing and can help distract them from any pain or nerves they may have.

Know When To Listen

Avoid talking over or interrupting the patient—communication is a two-way street between the professional and the patient.

The patient will probably feel a little overwhelmed with all the information you’re giving them, but let that settle over them and get them talking about themselves to make them feel more comfortable.

Warn the Patient About Side Effects

Always make sure the patient feels informed about the treatment and possible side effects. This way, you can help avoid negligence or malpractice claims.

Chiropractic professional liability insurance protects you against such claims, but it’s best to head off any problems before they begin. Ensure that your patient understands all the details and consequences of treatment—both positive and negative.

Chiropractor Etiquette—Post-Procedure

The procedure is over, but the treatment isn’t. The time immediately following the initial treatment is still crucial to the patient. Remember, it’s not enough for the patient to be pain-free at the time—a thorough treatment plan will help outline their future.

Communicate Treatment Plans

Now that the procedure is over, solicit feedback from the patient about how they’re feeling physically and mentally. If their ailment requires future treatment, explain to them why you’d like to see them again.

Also, give them treatment options if applicable—patients want to feel like they have some control over their care.

Refer the Patient if Needed

Sometimes, patients see a chiropractor because they don’t have any other ideas for what to do. Unfortunately, a chiropractor may not be the best option for every patient, so don’t be afraid to refer them to another medical professional or even another chiropractor.

Some young chiropractors don’t want to admit they can’t help, but everyone has limitations. The patient’s well-being always comes first, so if you think another chiropractor or a different medical professional can help them, you should tell them that.

Give Them Something To Take Home

Whether or not you’re planning on seeing the patient again for further treatment, it’s always helpful to send them home with something. Give them some exercises, stretches, and health tips that could improve their quality of life.

It shows the patient that you have their best interests at heart and want them to feel better soon. If you don’t have a future appointment scheduled, check on them days or weeks after the treatment. Your patients will appreciate the thought and care you put into following up with them. Ideally, they will give your practice a positive review or testimonial, which can help you grow your chiropractic practice.

Soft-tissue therapy and spinal manipulations are only part of the job of a chiropractor. Along with treatment, there is etiquette that every chiropractor should follow, but what’s most important is making the patient feel heard and important.

At Baxter & Associates, we want your practice to thrive. Make sure it’s covered for any eventuality with the best chiropractic malpractice insurance. Contact us today for more information.

The world of medical malpractice is quite vast, encompassing all aspects of health professionals’ work, including times when they’re not actually working. In the lifespan of a medical career, a person may change jobs a handful of times, crossing state lines and moving higher up in their specialty. This is where special policies and additions come in. Here are the fundamentals of medical malpractice tail coverage.

Medical Malpractice Policy Basics

To appreciate the scope of tail coverage, you must grasp the basics of medical malpractice insurance. A large variety of professionals need coverage. Each policy is different based on the doctor’s location, specialty, and coverage preferences. However, the fundamental purpose remains—it supplies financial aid to clients in legal trouble per the policy agreement. 

Bringing Tail Coverage Into the Picture

Once a policy term ends and payments cease, most insurers cease their coverage. Some stipulations or special insurance types cover insureds post-policy. However, medical malpractice policies often lack this longevity.

Tail coverage is the add-on insurance that insureds can purchase at an additional price. This coverage will extend the time frame of the policy and cover the insured for patient malpractice claims from the time of the policy.

When Tail Coverage Matters

Medical careers are no different from other careers—people will move cross-country for the right opportunity. If a medical professional moves states, changes their scope of practice, or takes a break from their work, their insurance policy will end. This is completely normal, but it does come with risks that many people overlook.

Moving Across State Lines

Each state has its own rules and regulations regarding medical malpractice insurance types, policy limits, and choices. Doctors crossing state lines will need new insurance but could still receive claims from their previous patients. In this case, tail coverage will decrease the risk that these past issues will follow the doctor to their new location. 

Changing Scope of Practice

Similarly, when a medical professional gets a promotion or changes their position, their scope of practice changes as well. Their policy should change to reflect the increased or decreased risk of malpractice. This often results in new insurance in which the old policy is no longer in effect. Tail coverage will keep patient claims during their previous role from damaging them now.

Ceasing Work for a Time

Doctors may take time off for childbirth, sabbatical rest, or retirement. In any of these cases, this person is no longer working and not paying for insurance due to their professional hiatus. The only issue with these cessations is the risk that past patients will level a lawsuit against them. Tail coverage provides peace of mind to new parents and retirees alike, making career choices easier to bear.

Knowing the fundamentals of medical malpractice tail coverage can help medical professionals manage their careers amid change. If you need to update your insurance policy or find new malpractice insurance for healthcare professionals in your area, reach out to our team today at Baxter & Associates. 

Medical misdiagnosis is a problem that affects both patients and healthcare professionals. Doctors and medical professionals are human, too, so errors can happen. Still, they can cause long-term injury to the individual patient and the entire industry. Here are three ways misdiagnosis affects the healthcare industry.

Patient Suffering and Cost

The primary effect of medical misdiagnoses is the consequences suffered by patients. Around 12 million Americans experience a diagnostic error every year, and most American patients will encounter a mistake at least once in their lifetime. Due to misdiagnoses and related complications, approximately 40-80,000 patients prematurely expire each year.

The unnecessary loss of life is the most significant injury, but many patients undergo unnecessary treatments and suffer due to a diagnostic error. Misdiagnoses can mean prolonged stays in hospital facilities, wasting hospital resources, and possibly damaging patients in the long term.

Loss of Patient Confidence

Doctors and healthcare professionals rely on their experience and education to make educated decisions about patients’ health. When medical professionals make mistakes, patients lose their confidence in their doctors and medical treatment in general. It’s common for patients not to trust the future diagnoses of other doctors or avoid seeking medical opinions and treatment altogether after experiencing a diagnostic error.

A medical misdiagnosis can have a ripple effect on the patient and their family. Due to a loss of faith of medical professionals and the industry, some patients will seek self-treatment, leading to further injury. Even with the occasional mistake, it’s always better for patients to seek a professional medical opinion and treatment options instead of attempting to treat themselves or ignore their medical problems altogether.

Financial Industry Cost

Diagnostic errors have an individual impact on the patient and the healthcare industry as well. Recent estimates say that 30% of annual healthcare spending, approximately $750 billion, is wasted on unnecessary services and other treatment inefficiencies resulting from misdiagnoses.

Healthcare facilities are less efficient and productive due to medical misdiagnoses, which leads to wasted resources. It also leads to more insurance claims, so medical practice liability insurance is crucial for many healthcare facilities and providers.

A diagnostic error has many ramifications, both to the individual patient and the healthcare industry. There are many ways misdiagnosis affects the healthcare industry, but the primary injuries are to the patients and their families and the healthcare professionals who waste resources and time due to error.