How To Save On Malpractice Insurance

In these tight economic times, no one is immune from the pressures to reduce costs. Major corporations are looking for ways to save money anywhere they can. Airlines are cutting even such seemingly trivial expenses as peanuts on domestic flights and charging ‘extra’ premiums on just about everything. In some ways, the medical profession stands unique and alone. It’s simply not acceptable to reduce the quality of care to save a buck or two. A doctor cannot afford to cut corners when lives are on the line. But there are ways to cut costs.

Just as being proactive about one’s health can reduce costs and suffering by eliminating the problems before they occur or escalate, physicians can lower their expenses with a proactive approach. One of the most sensible and affordable ways to do that is a membership in Medical Justice. Like a few other things in the business world, a Medical Justice membership doesn’t actually cost money. It saves money. Here’s how:

Read more

From The Trenches #5 — Taking Personal Responsibility

From The Trenches

(Healthcare Reform for the Real World)

#5: Taking Personal Responsibility

This is the fifth in a series of articles examining the problems in our health care system from the real world where patients get sick and injured, and doctors and other health care providers work to heal them. In the series, we’ll identify the actual non-political problems, and offer sound, sensible solutions that we can ourselves enact to reduce risk and increase patient safety.

People rely upon professionals to take care of them, and it is reasonable for them to do so. Though we come from a world of generalists, medicine is a world of specializations, and we defer to these experts. Perhaps this is wise; a specialist can afford to dig into the depths of his or her field of expertise and gain greater understandings of those detailed workings. But that doesn’t mean that we have become impotent, or that we shouldn’t still have a generalist who can see the forest while standing amongst the trees. More importantly, that doesn’t mean that we delegate or relegate our responsibility for our own health and well being; We can rely upon the expertise of specialists without giving up control of our lives.

Read more

Defining Frivolous Lawsuits

In English, a word can have many meanings. It’s important that we understand the term “frivolous,” as it relates to medical malpractice claims. “Frivolous” is at the heart of the problem and is a core concern of the system by which we provide our nation with wellness.

According to Merriam-Webster, the term comes from Middle English, from the Latin “frivolus,” about the 15th century. There are two root meanings:

1) Having little weight or importance, or no sound basis in fact or law

2) Lacking in seriousness, or marked by unbecoming levity.

When we use the term in regards to claims of medical malpractice, we generally employ the first meaning, that the suit has no sound basis in fact or law. Contrary to the first part of that definition, though, any medical malpractice claim is important and constitutes a considerable burden, so it does have weight, and is serious. There’s nothing funny about being named in a baseless lawsuit.

Read more

Demands For Refunds on Dental Work? Yes, they ARE serious!

When it first started, most thought it was a joke, a hoax or a fluke. Could someone seriously be demanding a refund because they didn’t like the way their dental work turned out? Never underestimate the power of greed and ignorance. Some patients have attorneys trying to get them refunds for dental work now. If you don’t think this is preposterous, you may want to have a closer look.

To be fair, let’s put this into neutral ground. Say you’re a mechanic. The client brings in their vehicle wanting new tires, and asks you to check out a “clunking” sound heard in the front end when cornering. You find the problem, change out the part, install their tires, balance it, and send them on their way. Then, weeks or months later, you get a letter from their attorney. They’re saying they don’t like the way their car looks with the new tires, so they want you to refund the money paid — all of it. Does that seem fair or make sense to you?

Read more

Latest Posts from Our Blog