Archive for Healthcare
Acupuncturists
Acupuncture is a stress and pain management health care service that involves placing needles in specific parts of the body. It is usually viewed as an alternative medicine but is increasingly accepted as a health care profession. This coverage insures the general liability and professional liability exposures of acupuncture specialists.
Addiction, Drug & Alcohol
Adult Care
Ambulatory Surgery Centers / Urgent Care
Ambulatory surgery centers perform outpatient surgeries. They do not have facilities on premises for overnight stays. If complications arise that require additional medical attention or overnight observation, the patient is transported to a local hospital. The professional and liability exposures are similar to those of a hospital, as are the skill and expertise levels expected.
Assisted Living Facilities
Assisted living facilities serve elderly and disabled individuals who can care for themselves but need one or more types of personal assistance. Residents usually do not require daily medical care but may need assistance in personal hygiene, proper nutrition, housekeeping, and medication management. Policies cover a wide range of homes, including those that cater to people in the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease. These policies cover both professional and general liability exposures as well as other package lines.
Battered Persons Facilities
These facilities offer shelter to people who are abused or battered by their spouses or significant others. Many provide respite care and provide safe housing for the victim and any children as they transition to more permanent arrangements and solutions. These shelters are usually at undisclosed secure locations. Their primary feature is lodging and board but a variety of treatment services may also be available. Off-site operations not directly affiliated with the facility often provide these services. Professional liability coverage similar to that provided to social workers may also be needed.
Birth Centers Liability
Birth centers are an option for expectant mothers. They provide complete maternity service, including prenatal care and childbirth preparation classes for families experiencing a normal pregnancy and anticipating a normal birth without complications. Women give birth in a room designed to look like a master bedroom. Each room in the center is equipped with medical devices for use in case of an emergency. Teams of nurse-midwives, obstetricians, pediatricians, parent educators, and other supporting staff provide the care needed. Most centers have arrangements with local hospitals to immediately transport the mother and baby if unexpected problems arise.
Day Care Centers: Adult
Liability insurance on day care centers for adults is very difficult to place because of the responsibility they assume for fragile older adults entrusted to them. These adults are ambulatory and live somewhat independently. If even a minor injury occurs, they may no longer be ambulatory and may be confined to a nursing home for the rest of their lives. Underwriting acceptability and the premium charged is based on the activities and services provided, the qualifications and experience of the staff, and the overall level of supervision. Abuse and molestation coverage should be considered.
Emergency Care Centers
Emergency care centers provide an alternative to traditional hospital emergency rooms. The operations are similar to a physician’s office but do not require appointments or the usual long-term doctor/patient relationship in order for treatment to be provided. Physicians or nurse practitioners may staff these centers. Hours are longer than traditional physician’s offices and some are open 24/7.
Female Reproductive Services
Clinics that specialize in female health care may focus primarily on the female reproductive system. In doing so, they will provide a variety of exams, provide counseling in effective family planning, including birth control, and provide aids for increasing fertility. Some may also provide pharmaceutical and/or surgical abortions.
Gymnastics Liability
Preparing for athletic events requires endless hours of training. There is potential for significant injuries during both sanctioned events and training. Gymnastics liability covers this exposure. In addition, this coverage protects athletes while they travel to and from events. This coverage is excess over medical coverage that the athletes purchase. Gymnastic clubs or programs, such as those that the YMCA organizes, are eligible for this coverage.
Health Foods Industry
Health foods have become more popular because of concerns about the potential problems with foods grown using a variety of pesticides, herbicides, and other chemical compounds. Property and casualty insurance programs that include products liability coverage are available to manufacturers, distributors, wholesalers, and retailers of a wide range of health food products. This industry includes natural foods, organic foods, food supplements, and personal care products.
Home Health Care Agencies
Insurance programs for home health care agencies are available to hospitals, social service associations, and labor unions as well as independent home healthcare agencies. Coverages provided usually include general liability, personal injury liability, non-owned auto liability, and professional liability. Insured persons include registered nurses (RNs), licensed practical nurses (LPNs), aides, physical and occupational therapists, and others. Physicians are not eligible. Bed and board facilities, such as nursing homes and risks that utilize x-rays and anesthesia are not eligible.
Home Medical Equipment Dealers
Hospice
Hospice care services are available to clients both on premises and off site. Off- site care can be at the client’s home or in an institution, such as a hospital or nursing home. On premises care is provided in facilities similar to personal care nursing homes. General liability and professional liability coverage is usually offered in a combined coverage form. Most hospice operations also need excess liability, property, automobile liability and physical damage, employment practices liability, and directors and officers liability coverages.
Kidney Dialysis Centers
Coverage applies to general liability and professional liability for centers that provide dialysis services to patients with diseased kidneys. This coverage is limited to centers that provide only outpatient services.
Long-Term Care
Managed Care E&O
Managed care operations attempt to balance a patient’s health care needs with the cost to provide services. This is not a health care professional liability policy. It is an administrative failure policy and includes errors and omissions made through the managed care facility. It may also provide directors and officers liability coverage.
Massage Therapists Professional Liability
This insurance protects massage therapists against claims for alleged professional negligence or malpractice.
Medical/Physical Rehabilitation Therapy
Medical/physical rehabilitation professionals help people attain physical, mental, social, and vocational independence. Rehabilitation services include case management, residential visits, physical, speech and vocational therapy, recreational activities, and clinical and medical evaluations. The services can be short- or long- term and are based on the specific needs, the treatment plan, and how the individuals respond to the therapies.
MediSpa
MediSpas
MediSpas offer a variety of medical cosmetic procedures along with a number of non-medical treatments to their clients. Procedures and treatments offered can include anti-aging, laser services, dermal fillers, botox, hair removal, massages, and aesthetic services.
Mental Health Clinics Professional Liability
Mental health clinics provide a variety of services for adults, adolescents, and children who may be referred by a family doctor, school officials, social workers, counselors, or law enforcement officers. These centers provide individual and group counseling, medication, and day care programs. Short-term inpatient services may be provided for persons who receive treatment. Staff consists of psychiatrists, psychologists, psychiatric nurses, and activity therapists.
Nurse Practitioners
Nurse practitioners are nurses who have obtained master or doctoral degrees and are certified as such by a nursing board in the state where they practice. State regulations determine the services they can provide. Many practice independently from physicians while others are required to have a collaborative relationship with a physician. Some states permit full rights to prescribe medication while others restrict or prohibit their ability to prescribe medications without physician oversight.D672
Nursing Homes Professional Liability
This coverage insures nursing homes against allegations of malpractice, error, or mistake in the care of patients in their facilities. Most policies combine commercial general liability and professional liability coverages. Availability and pricing varies significantly by state and by the type of services the nursing home provides.
Nutriceuticals
Health foods are becoming increasingly popular as the nation grows more concerned about potential problems with foods grown using a variety of pesticides, herbicides, and other chemical compounds. In addition, foods preserved with chemicals are thought to be (or may be) linked to cancer. Property and casualty insurance programs, including important products liability coverage with high limits, are available to manufacturers, distributors, wholesalers, and retailers involved with a wide range of health products, including natural foods, organic foods, food supplements, and personal care products.
Personal Trainers Professional Liability
People hire personal trainers to supervise their physical training and fitness exercises. Trainers may also arrange special diets and nutritional supplements for their clients. Professional liability insurance covers the trainer’s acts of negligence or omissions in setting up a fitness program or in supervising training.
Senior Living & Housing
This program is available for habitational buildings and housing complexes that cater to senior citizens. Eligibility extends to assisted living and subsidized properties, such as HUD and HFA. Coverages available include property, commercial general liability, crime, workers compensation, hired and non-owned auto, and incidental auto exposures. Other coverages that may be provided include directors and officers, professional liability, equipment breakdown, and umbrella.
Sperm Banks
This coverage protects sperm banks against claims for injury that arise from alleged malpractice, error, or mistake in taking sperm donations, handling and testing sperm, labeling sperm, preparing sperm for others, and storage. The primary concern is transmitting pathogens and diseases to others, improper labeling that result in the recipient not receiving the expected sperm, and sperm spoilage due to improper refrigeration and storage protocol. This insurance covers the cost to defend suits as well as damages that result from court awards or out-of-court settlements.