Skip to content
  • About
  • Contact
  • Contribute
  • Book
  • Careers
  • Podcast
  • Recommended
  • Speaking
  • All
  • Physician
  • Practice
  • Policy
  • Finance
  • Conditions
  • .edu
  • Patient
  • Meds
  • Tech
  • Social
  • Video
    • All
    • Physician
    • Practice
    • Policy
    • Finance
    • Conditions
    • .edu
    • Patient
    • Meds
    • Tech
    • Social
    • Video
    • About
    • Contact
    • Contribute
    • Book
    • Careers
    • Podcast
    • Recommended
    • Speaking

It’s time to reset the medical malpractice insurance conversation

Richard E. Anderson, MD & The Doctors Company
Physician
March 13, 2017
Share
Tweet
Share

The Doctors Company

In the mid-1970s, malpractice lawsuits and skyrocketing jury awards caused commercial insurance companies to raise physicians’ malpractice rates by as much as 400 percent. The practice of medicine was deemed to be “uninsurable.” Thousands of physicians faced cancellation of their policies. As a result, doctors came together to form their own companies to provide affordable and sustainable coverage. However, today’s physicians need more.

We spoke with more than 800 doctors, practice managers, and group administrators across the country last year. The message was clear: In addition to requiring strong professional liability protection, practices of all sizes also need their insurer to be a proactive partner to help them navigate the challenges ahead.

It is time for our industry to reset the conversation around medical malpractice insurance. We believe we should serve the medical profession by partnering with those who provide care — so that doctors can focus on making decisions based on the best outcomes for patients, rather than on threats of litigation, invasive regulation, or financial loss.

The industry needs to focus on the positive aspects of what we do for physicians by taking the “mal” out of malpractice. We will do this by collaborating with practices and systems to reduce the likelihood of lawsuits, by defending doctors inside and outside the courtroom, and by helping them navigate today’s health care landscape.

Evolving to meet changing needs

As health care continues to undergo unprecedented change, practicing medicine has become increasingly complex. Faced with a tangle of contradictory regulations, rapidly changing system and reporting mandates, the disruptions of digitization and consolidation, and ever-present cyber threats, those who practice medicine have never been under greater pressure.

In this environment, medical malpractice insurers must evolve to meet the changing needs of the profession. Practitioners struggling to heal patients and stay in business need more than an insurer that simply reacts to claims.

We should offer tools and services that provide guidance. For example, we have created an extensive library of articles and resources openly available to all health care providers to help them understand and comply with electronic health record requirements, become familiar with the risks of telemedicine, and stay informed about drug safety laws. We share these articles and resources with health care providers worldwide in a number of ways, including social media. We have also initiated online conversations about medicine in the changing health care environment through our hashtag #advancegoodmedicine.

Every piece of information that supports practicing medicine safely and effectively in this changing environment has special value. Practices and systems are looking for insurer-led participatory education and coaching, like rare-event simulation, to improve patient safety and reduce the threat of litigation. Our foundation recently provided grants for hands-on medical simulations, institutional- and physician-level process improvements in health care delivery, and improved safety systems as a core part of medical education.

Today’s medical malpractice insurance buyers also expect a comprehensive array of tools to help them stay current with emerging best practices in patient care. For example, we analyze data captured from our claims experience with more than 78,000 members and translate it into actionable reports that are shared free of charge with all health care providers. We have published reports on cardiology, anesthesiology, emergency medicine, orthopedics, obstetrics, hospital medicine, internal medicine, plastic surgery, and electronic health record claims. In upcoming reports, we will focus on opioid prescription, psychiatry, advanced practice provider, pediatrics, and hospital-based claims. These studies are designed to promote patient safety and minimize liability exposure. The analysis uncovers the newest plaintiff allegations, reveals the most important factors that potentially lead to patient injury, and discusses—in detail—the shared aspects of claims. Physicians nationwide have already begun using the data in these studies to make changes in their practices that benefit patients and reduce the risk of adverse events.

Starting a new conversation

Another reason to reframe the conversation about medical malpractice is that the term “malpractice” is a misnomer. Over 80 percent of our claims are closed with no indemnity payment. It’s time to stop focusing on the inaccurate term “malpractice” and instead emphasize the positive measures insurers take to help doctors, practices, and systems reduce claims. The industry can join in this effort by sharing data and by engaging in collaborative patient safety and risk management programs.

Changing the way we talk about malpractice insurance is the first step in demonstrating our understanding of the contemporary experience of medical practice and becoming a proactive partner that meets rapidly evolving needs.

Richard E. Anderson is chairman and chief executive officer of The Doctors Company.

ADVERTISEMENT

Founded and led by physicians, The Doctors Company is relentlessly committed to advancing, protecting, and rewarding the practice of good medicine. The Doctors Company helps hospitals and practices of all sizes manage the complexities of today’s healthcare environment—with expert guidance, resources, and coverage—and is the only medical malpractice insurer with an advocacy program covering all 50 states and the federal level. The Doctors Company is part of TDC Group, the nation’s largest physician-owned provider of insurance and risk management solutions. TDC Group serves the full continuum of care.

Image credit: Shutterstock.com

Prev

How to shift focus on America’s health

March 13, 2017 Kevin 2
…
Next

Hope and trust are two powerful medicines we should use more of

March 13, 2017 Kevin 2
…

Tagged as: Malpractice

Post navigation

< Previous Post
How to shift focus on America’s health
Next Post >
Hope and trust are two powerful medicines we should use more of

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

More by Richard E. Anderson, MD & The Doctors Company

  • Third-party litigation funding threatens access to health care

    The Doctors Company
  • Are you protecting your career? 5 essential questions about your NP liability insurance

    The Doctors Company
  • AI, the physician shortage, and other health care trends [PODCAST]

    The Doctors Company & The Podcast by KevinMD

Related Posts

  • A medical student’s reflection on time, the scarcest resource

    Natasha Abadilla
  • Digital advances in the medical aid in dying movement

    Jennifer Lynn
  • Understanding consent-to-settle in your malpractice insurance policy

    Jennifer Wiggins
  • Open enrollment: It’s time to leave your insurance plan behind

    Andy Schoonover
  • The next time you see a medical student, give support

    Gurbaksh Esch, MD
  • Is it finally time for wage insurance?

    Kunal Sindhu, MD

More in Physician

  • Why wanting more from your medical career is a sign of strength

    Maureen Gibbons, MD
  • How a rainy walk helped an oncologist rediscover joy and bravery

    Dr. Damane Zehra
  • How inspiration and family stories shape our most meaningful moments

    Arthur Lazarus, MD, MBA
  • A day in the life of a WHO public health professional in Meghalaya, India

    Dr. Poulami Mazumder
  • Why women doctors are still mistaken for nurses

    Emma Fenske, DO
  • Adriana Smith’s story: a medical tragedy under heartbeat laws

    Nicole M. King, MD
  • Most Popular

  • Past Week

    • Why removing fluoride from water is a public health disaster

      Steven J. Katz, DDS | Conditions
    • When did we start treating our lives like trauma?

      Maureen Gibbons, MD | Physician
    • First impressions happen online—not in your exam room

      Sara Meyer | Social media
    • How Gen Z is transforming mental health care [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • Dedicated hypermobility clinics can transform patient care

      Katharina Schwan, MPH | Conditions
    • Why ADHD in adults is often missed—and why it matters [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
  • Past 6 Months

    • Why tracking cognitive load could save doctors and patients

      Hiba Fatima Hamid | Education
    • What the world must learn from the life and death of Hind Rajab

      Saba Qaiser, RN | Conditions
    • The silent toll of ICE raids on U.S. patient care

      Carlin Lockwood | Policy
    • Why recovery after illness demands dignity, not suspicion

      Trisza Leann Ray, DO | Physician
    • Why does rifaximin cost 95 percent more in the U.S. than in Asia?

      Jai Kumar, MD, Brian Nohomovich, DO, PhD and Leonid Shamban, DO | Meds
    • Why medical students are trading empathy for publications

      Vijay Rajput, MD | Education
  • Recent Posts

    • How Gen Z is transforming mental health care [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • Nurses aren’t eating their young — we’re starving the profession

      Adam J. Wickett, BSN, RN | Conditions
    • Why wanting more from your medical career is a sign of strength

      Maureen Gibbons, MD | Physician
    • U.S. health care leadership must prepare for policy-driven change

      Lee Scheinbart, MD | Policy
    • Why the pre-med path is pushing future doctors to the brink

      Jordan Williamson, MEd | Education
    • Why the fear of being forgotten is stronger than the fear of death [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast

Subscribe to KevinMD and never miss a story!

Get free updates delivered free to your inbox.


Find jobs at
Careers by KevinMD.com

Search thousands of physician, PA, NP, and CRNA jobs now.

Learn more

View 6 Comments >

Founded in 2004 by Kevin Pho, MD, KevinMD.com is the web’s leading platform where physicians, advanced practitioners, nurses, medical students, and patients share their insight and tell their stories.

Social

  • Like on Facebook
  • Follow on Twitter
  • Connect on Linkedin
  • Subscribe on Youtube
  • Instagram

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

  • Most Popular

  • Past Week

    • Why removing fluoride from water is a public health disaster

      Steven J. Katz, DDS | Conditions
    • When did we start treating our lives like trauma?

      Maureen Gibbons, MD | Physician
    • First impressions happen online—not in your exam room

      Sara Meyer | Social media
    • How Gen Z is transforming mental health care [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • Dedicated hypermobility clinics can transform patient care

      Katharina Schwan, MPH | Conditions
    • Why ADHD in adults is often missed—and why it matters [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
  • Past 6 Months

    • Why tracking cognitive load could save doctors and patients

      Hiba Fatima Hamid | Education
    • What the world must learn from the life and death of Hind Rajab

      Saba Qaiser, RN | Conditions
    • The silent toll of ICE raids on U.S. patient care

      Carlin Lockwood | Policy
    • Why recovery after illness demands dignity, not suspicion

      Trisza Leann Ray, DO | Physician
    • Why does rifaximin cost 95 percent more in the U.S. than in Asia?

      Jai Kumar, MD, Brian Nohomovich, DO, PhD and Leonid Shamban, DO | Meds
    • Why medical students are trading empathy for publications

      Vijay Rajput, MD | Education
  • Recent Posts

    • How Gen Z is transforming mental health care [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • Nurses aren’t eating their young — we’re starving the profession

      Adam J. Wickett, BSN, RN | Conditions
    • Why wanting more from your medical career is a sign of strength

      Maureen Gibbons, MD | Physician
    • U.S. health care leadership must prepare for policy-driven change

      Lee Scheinbart, MD | Policy
    • Why the pre-med path is pushing future doctors to the brink

      Jordan Williamson, MEd | Education
    • Why the fear of being forgotten is stronger than the fear of death [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast

MedPage Today Professional

An Everyday Health Property Medpage Today
  • Terms of Use | Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy
  • DMCA Policy
All Content © KevinMD, LLC
Site by Outthink Group

It’s time to reset the medical malpractice insurance conversation
6 comments

Comments are moderated before they are published. Please read the comment policy.

Loading Comments...