As trauma centers struggled to stay open and maternity centers closed, the debate raged on about the reasons for this predicament. Was it the rising cost of insurance coverage? Inadequate health delivery processes? Too many medical errors? Or a broken malpractice tort system? During this very unsettling time for doctors and patients, we created the first physician-driven medical malpractice company in Pennsylvania.
We believe the delivery of quality health care should never be compromised. And the way to maintain that quality is to provide physicians with a model to head off potential problems and risks by taking preemptive action, an absolute must in Pennsylvania, one of the country’s most litigious states. Our model ensures that physicians and their office staff recognize potential risks or adverse events early on and take the appropriate action to manage these risks. And when faced with potential legal action, physicians must have the means to communicate appropriately with their patients or directly with third-party administrators, medical review boards, and, if necessary, the defense team.
This is part of a well-rounded strategy for first-class patient care, process efficiency, reasonable cost control, and liability. Our company’s model helps not only hospitals and in-patient settings but also private practice physicians who specialize in outpatient treatments.
We provide layers of support for physicians that enhance patient satisfaction, thereby reducing the risk of litigation. This is accomplished through an aggressive team approach to managing risks. It involves physicians, giving them direct access to experienced insurance professionals, experts in risk management, and a medical review board made up of peers.
A direct interface between physicians, third-party administrators, and the medical review board can decrease the frequency and severity of litigation and address patient and/or physician needs with positive solutions that allow for consistent rates and optimal coverage.
This program can cut costs by limiting lawsuits. I strongly believe that this model, by default, improves the quality of care. We have personally witnessed the success of this integrated system. Physician-driven carriers are committed to the needs of physician policyholders; as such, there is an unparalleled level of care and concern for the policyholders and their patients.
As a result, you have a working culture that values learning, innovation, responsible risk taking, and continuous improvement, critical elements to a successful practice.
By involving the right people — those who are on the front lines and who live and practice with the outcomes of their policies — this model provides stability and allows policyholders the peace of mind they need to grow and develop their practices. These are essential ingredients if we are to bring stability to the system and maintain patient access to high-risk specialties.
Bringing together physicians with similar philosophies of quality patient care and safety under one insurance strategy is an idea whose time has come.
About the Author
Dr. Lewis S. Sharps is president of Positive Physicians Insurance Exchange (www.positivephysicians.com). Headquartered in Paoli, Pennsylvania, PPIX is the first physician-driven medical malpractice company in Pennsylvania. PPIX is a domiciled reciprocal insurance exchange whose mission is to provide a stable, long-term, physician-driven resource to control medical malpractice insurance.
