OB Patient Safety Credit Program: Frequently Asked Questions
General Questions
Our voluntary program is open to all qualifying member obstetricians, family practitioners providing obstetrical care, certified nurse midwives (CNMs), and certified midwives (CMs) actively involved in deliveries.
Phase One offers continuing education credits for a series of on-demand courses addressing the most common obstetrical claims. Qualifying members who successfully meet the requirements can receive a patient safety credit of up to 10 percent applied to their next two policy renewal periods.
Phase Two offers continuing education credits for courses addressing postpartum discharge, hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, and postpartum hemorrhage. Qualifying members who successfully meet the requirements can receive a patient safety credit of up to 10 percent applied to their next two policy renewal periods.
Phase Three rewards providers who earn certification in electronic fetal monitoring from the National Certification Corporation (NCC) Electronic Fetal Monitoring or the Inteleos, Electronic Fetal Monitoring Credentialing Program.* Qualifying members who successfully meet the requirements can receive a patient safety credit of up to 10 percent applied to their next two policy renewal periods.
*The Doctors Company does not endorse a specific credentialing organization.
Phase Four offers continuing education credits for courses addressing risk and liabilities in labor and obstetric management, late-term induction, preterm labor use of magnesium sulfate, peripartum cardiomyopathy, and maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality.
Phase Five requires member participation in a Practice Risk INSIGHT assessment that includes the OB/GYN addendum. This phase should take nine to 12 months to complete. Follow-up coaching and consultation are provided to implement and sustain the improvement/action plans.
Phase Six will be a repeat of Phase Three. It requires members to earn certification in electronic fetal monitoring. Qualifying members who complete the requirements will receive a patient safety credit of up to 10 percent applied to their next three policy renewal periods. Review Phase Three for qualifying certifications and credit process.
Phase Seven is a repeat of Phase One. Courses may have been upgraded since initial completion.
Phase Eight is a repeat of Phase Two. Courses may have been upgraded since initial completion.
Your policy’s underwriter determines eligibility. Your agent, broker, or patient safety risk manager will contact the Underwriting Department on your behalf.
Participation in the OB Patient Safety Credit Program requires completing assigned courses through The Sullivan Group. Electronic fetal monitoring (EFM) certification is required through the National Certification Corporation or the Perinatal Quality Foundation.
Phases One, Two, Four, Seven, and Eight
All courses must be completed within the calendar year in which the first course began.
Most courses can be completed in two hours. A course does not need to be completed all at once. Because the courses are on demand, you have 24/7 access and can log in or out without losing your place.
The coursework provider, The Sullivan Group, extends a discounted rate to members of The Doctors Company.
Members must show they have successfully completed the assigned courses by giving the patient safety risk manager a copy of each course certificate.
Phases Three and Six
The certification process must be completed within 60 days of policy renewal.
Members can select a program offered by two credentialing organizations, the National Certification Corporation (NCC) Electronic Fetal Monitoring or Inteleos, Electronic Fetal Monitoring Credentialing Program. (The Doctors Company does not endorse a specific organization.) Refer to the National Certification Corporation or the Inteleos websites for cost information.
Find details on the National Certification Corporation at https://www.nccwebsite.org/.
Find details on Inteleos, Electronic Fetal Monitoring Credentialing at https://www.inteleos.org/.
Providers who have already earned certification may submit the certificate to their patient safety risk manager.
No. All Phases must be completed in order for their appropriate years of credit. If, at the end of the two years covered by the initial Phase One credit, you are interested in taking Phase Two, the underwriter must reevaluate the policy for eligibility. It is not an automatic process. When the policy credit for Subsequent Phases are complete, the underwriter will reevaluate the policy for the next Phase eligibility.
The patient safety credit is valid and applied according to the program: two policy years for Phases One, Two, Four, Five, Seven, and Eight. It is three policy years for Phases Three and Six.
Phase Five
The surveys can be conducted onsite or virtually if agreed upon in collaboration with the member.
The Practice Risk INSIGHT assessment and OB/GYN addendum may be done virtually at the discretion of the patient safety risk manager. Contact your patient safety risk manager to get a detailed description of the virtual/hybrid process.