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This column is provided as a service to the membership by the Psychiatrists’ Purchasing Group Inc. (PPG), operator of the APA-sponsored Professional Liability Insurance Program.
A few years ago, I was served with a summons and complaint for medical malpractice. The claims staff of the APA-sponsored Professional Liability Insurance Program and my assigned defense attorney have been very helpful with their expertise, guidance, and support. I was recently informed that my case is going to trial. This litigation has been stressful for both me and my family, and I am experiencing further anxiety with the impending trial. A recent "At Your Service" column provided information on a new service for psychiatrists involved in malpractice litigation. Would you please reprint the information about the service?
A malpractice trial can be a very traumatic event for a psychiatrist and his or her family. The Professional Liability Insurance Program has recently introduced a new benefit for all program participants called the Providers’ Litigation Understanding and Support (PLUS) service. PLUS is designed to educate insureds involved in lawsuits while helping them cope with the trauma of litigation. The guidance provided on how to deal with the difficulties of the trial process will benefit not only the providers but also their families.
One of the tools PLUS provides you is a "Litigation Survival Packet," containing a litigation handbook written in lay terms. It explains different stages of litigation (interrogatories, depositions, trial, and so on) and the insured’s role in it. We also provide you with a referral to a psychiatrist who has had firsthand experience with the process and who has volunteered his or her time to help colleagues deal with the process.
For more information, please contact Kathleen Lamb, J.D., assistant vice president at Professional Risk Management Services, at (800) 245-3333, ext. 323.
I have just "survived" a trial in which, thankfully, a verdict for the defense was rendered. This has been the most difficult experience of my professional career. Litigation affected every aspect of my life and my family’s life and upset my emotional well-being. Having survived this process, I want to help other physicians who are going through the same thing. How can I volunteer my time to help others in a similar situation?
The APA-sponsored Professional Liability Insurance Program provides a support system of psychiatrists and other professionals who, like you, have been sued. The Providers’ Litigation Understanding and Support (PLUS) service depends on a network of volunteer providers who lend their support and guidance. If you are a participant in the APA-sponsored Professional Liability Insurance Program and are interested in volunteering for the PLUS network, please contact Kathleen Lamb, J.D., assistant vice president at Professional Risk Management Services, at (800) 245-3333, ext. 323.
Does the APA-sponsored Professional Liability Insurance Program offer a risk management manual to participants? I recently joined the program and am interested in learning about the risk management services available. If a manual is available, how can I obtain a copy?
In addition to a quarterly risk management newsletter, the program provides new members with a copy of the comprehensive legal and risk management manual, Legal and Risk Management Issues in the Practice of Psychiatry. If you are a participant in the program but did not receive your manual, please call your underwriter at (800) 245-3333 to have a copy mailed to you.
Today I was speaking to one of my colleagues who attended a risk management seminar in September about the risk of insurance fraud. Unfortunately, I missed the seminar and was wondering if audiotapes of the seminar are available for purchase?
The seminar "Reducing the Risk of Insurance Fraud Under a Managed Behavioral Healthcare Delivery System—A Forethought, Not an Afterthought" was held in Washington, D.C., on September 19 and 20. The seminar was taped, and the tapes and written materials are available for purchase.
The recorded sessions include "The Challenge of Managing Malpractice Risks in Managed Care Settings"; "Insurance Fraud and Health Care Fraud"; "Practical Reimbursement Strategies for Managed Care"; "Understanding the Limits of Coverage Provided by Professional Liability Insurance and the Impact of Fraud Allegations on the Defense of a Medical Malpractice Claim"; "Effective Office Practice Management"; and "Managing Medications Under Managed Care: Delivering Quality Care While Avoiding Liability." The cassettes are available for $100. For more information, please call (800) 245-3333, ext. 333.
APA welcomes the opportunity to hear from you about APA-sponsored benefit programs.
Send your questions on the APA insurance and special benefit programs to At Your Service, Psychiatric News, APA, 1000 Wilson Boulevard, Arlington, Va. 22209-3901.