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Professional insurance a liability for hospitals?
The American Hospital Association (AHA) recently announced the results of its Professional Liability Insurance Survey. In March, the survey was faxed to all U.S. community hospitals, with 1,089 responding. The AHA sought to compile data regarding the impact of professional liability costs on hospitals.
The American Medical Association has designated certain states as crisis states, namely, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Nevada, Mississippi, Washington, Oregon, Texas, Arkansas, Missouri, Georgia, Florida, Illinois, North Carolina, Kentucky, Ohio, New York, Connecticut, and New Jersey. Reform states, those that have adopted some of the reforms currently before the U.S. Senate, include California, Colorado, Indiana, and Wisconsin. In crisis states, $11,435 in professional liability expenses is spent per staffed bed this year. Non-reform states spend an average of $6,915 in professional liability per staffed bed each year; reform states spend $4,228.
Fast stats
Many hospitals in crisis states report taking additional risks as a result of the situation:
[white diamond suit] 44.6% reported an increased deductible
[white diamond suit] 18.2% reported a reduced level of coverage
[white diamond suit] 12.9% assumed a deductible.
Hospitals also report a negative impact on the ability to provide certain services:
[white diamond suit] 17.2% reported a negative impact on obstetrics
[white diamond suit] 10.6% reported a lessened ability to provide emergency care.
Source: American Hospital Association Survey of Hospitals on Professional Liability Experience. Available on-line at:http://www.hospitalconnect.com/aha/press_room-info/content/Liability030428.ppt.
Ones to watch
Pamela Pieper, MSN, ARNP, is the president-elect of the American Pediatric Surgical Nurses Association. Pieper, a faculty member at the University of Florida College of Nursing, Gainesville, Fla., will assume presidency of the organization in May 2004.
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The National Psoriasis Foundation named Melodie Young, RN, MSN, ANP, Texas Dermatology, Dallas, Tex., to its newly expanded medical board.
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The National Student Nurses Association (NSNA) announced its board of directors for 2003-2004. The officers are President Matthew Arant, Lincoln Memorial University-Corbin Campus, Corbin, Ky.; Vice-President Allison R. Webel, Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio; and Secretary/Treasurer Michael J. Brakel, Hawaii Pacific University, Kaneohe, Hawaii. Directors are Ebony Williford, Mt. Carmel College of Nursing, Columbus, Ohio; Melisa Andrea Wilson, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Fla.; Cheri Adair, University of Maryland, Baltimore, Md.; and Andy Byerly, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah.
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NSNA has also appointed Barbara Goldberg-Chamberlain, MSN, APRN, BC, its National League for Nursing consultant. Goldberg-Chamberlain is an assistant professor of nursing at Drexel University, Philadelphia, Pa.
Donnelly Place, a care community in Lantana, Fla., named Marion C. Neuhaus, RN, its director of nursing.
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