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Second Quarter 2009 |
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2009 Dividend Declared
The Board of Governors has declared that beginning in July, eligible members will receive a dividend credit toward their policy renewals.
The dividend credit will provide a premium reduction to members in Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Maryland, Ohio, Oregon, Virginia, Washington, and Wyoming. Members in eligible states who belong to the national specialty organizations that endorse or sponsor The Doctors Company will receive a dividend in addition to their extensive program benefits.
Our multiyear dividend is just one way we recognize and reward our members for their loyalty and partnership.
Ronald H. Wender, MD, FACA, Appointed to Board of Governors
We are pleased to announce the appointment of Ronald H. Wender, MD, FACA, to The Doctors Company’s Board of Governors.
A Los Angeles–based anesthesiologist, Dr. Wender is co-chairman of the Department of Anesthesiology at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, where he also serves as academic chair of the Cedars-Sinai anesthesia residency program and director of anesthesia training programs. He is a diplomate of the American Board of Anesthesiology, fellow of the Federation of State Medical Boards, and former president of the Medical Board of California.
Prior to joining The Doctors Company’s Board of Governors, Dr. Wender served on the Board of Directors of SCPIE Holdings, Inc.
“Dr. Wender is a recognized leader in the field of anesthesia. His extensive research has been documented in numerous publications and presentations,” said Richard E. Anderson, MD, FACP, chairman and CEO of The Doctors Company. “His unique combination of medical expertise and medical liability insurance knowledge will further our company’s goals to aggressively defend claims and advance leadership in patient safety.”
“I am proud to join the board of the largest and most respected physician-owned medical liability company in the nation,” added Dr. Wender. “I look forward to using my years of experience to make a contribution to The Doctors Company and its 45,000 members across the country.”
New Exclusive Endorsement
We are proud to announce that The Doctors Company has received the exclusive endorsement of the Ohio State Medical Association (OSMA) as the preferred medical liability insurer for its membership.
“We appreciate that the OSMA recognizes The Doctors Company’s long-standing commitment to the Ohio physician marketplace. With the largest professional liability staff dedicated exclusively to the state’s physicians, we deliver unparalleled service, aggressive legal defense, and member benefits no other insurer can match,” said Thomas G. Luffy, regional vice president of underwriting for The Doctors Company.
For more on the OSMA’s endorsement of The Doctors Company, visit our Press Room at www.thedoctors.com/news.
Physician Advisory Board Expands to Georgia
Georgia physicians recently gathered for the first Georgia Physician Advisory Board meeting, held in Atlanta. The physicians represented various specialties, including obstetrics and gynecology, internal medicine, and family practice. Three cases were presented by panel members, and defense counsel led a discussion on how standard of care and causation would apply. One case involving complex interaction of multiple prescribed narcotics created a vigorous debate. The panel members provided valuable insight into medical causation.
Defense counsel also provided the board members with an overview of Georgia tort reform, and Patient Safety’s Susan Marr highlighted the case studies and outlined strategies to prevent malpractice claims.
Georgia’s new Physician Advisory Board is off to a lively start. We look forward to future meetings.
Paying Tribute® to Members
Our innovative Tribute Plan is a financial benefit that rewards members for their continuing loyalty to The Doctors Company and for their commitment to providing outstanding patient care.
We have distributed career rewards to approximately 435 qualifying members.
You can check your personal award balance or learn more about the Tribute Plan at www.thedoctors.com/tribute.
The Doctor’s Advocate is published by The Doctors Company to advise and inform its members about loss prevention and insurance issues.
The guidelines suggested in this newsletter are not rules, do not constitute legal advice, and do not ensure a successful outcome. They attempt to define principles of practice for providing appropriate care. The principles are not inclusive of all proper methods of care nor exclusive of other methods reasonably directed at obtaining the same results.
The ultimate decision regarding the appropriateness of any treatment must be made by each health care provider in light of all circumstances prevailing in the individual situation and in accordance with the laws of the jurisdiction in which the care is rendered.
The Doctor’s Advocate is published quarterly by Corporate Communications, The Doctors Company. Letters and articles, to be edited and published at the editor’s discretion, are welcome. The views expressed are those of the letter writer and do not necessarily reflect the opinion or official policy of The Doctors Company. Please sign your letters, and address them to the editor.