Chiropractic Products spoke to Kiran Edwards, marketing specialist for OUM Chiropractor Program, Brentwood, Tenn, about the programs that OUM offers to chiropractors. 

What are some of the most important steps chiropractors can take to avoid a malpractice suit?

A few ways that chiropractors can avoid lawsuits are by taking risk-management courses, building an appropriate doctor-patient relationship, and informing their patients about the treatment options that are available to care for their specific condition. Keeping patient records in compliance with Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) regulations and detailed documentation of each visit, including subjective complaints and changes in objective findings, are essential elements to defending lawsuits.

What are some recent innovations that have taken place with OUM’s Web site?

OUM policyholders can make payments, request certificates of insurance, and view their policy documents online.

Sample risk-management forms that can help chiropractors and their staff reduce risk in documentation and communication with patients are available for policyholders through www.oumchiropractor.com. These forms give general information, and neither institute a standard of care nor provide legal advice.

OUM is offering a risk-management education series for the office staff of all OUM policyholders. The series, which can be downloaded from the Web site, includes handbooks on patient relations and communication, documentation, and office systems. This series also contains general information to help your staff reduce risk, but does not establish standard of care.

How can chiropractors determine whether carrying malpractice insurance is worth the cost?

The price of a malpractice insurance policy is minimal compared to the financial loss a lawsuit can cause a chiropractor. The cost of a policy varies depending on which state and county the chiropractor chooses to practice and also the discounts that the chiropractor is eligible to receive.  Experienced full-time chiropractors can expect to pay around $1,500 per year depending on the two factors mentioned. A malpractice policy not only protects against major financial loss, but it also allows the chiropractor to practice with peace of mind.

Which type of policy would be the most cost-effective while giving a chiropractor the best protection?

Both the claims made and occurrence policies are designed to provide coverage for malpractice incidents that occur during the policy period. The only difference is that with a claims made policy, the claim has to be reported while the policy is in force; whereas with an occurrence policy, the claim can be reported at any time. However, the claims made policy can provide the same type of protection as the occurrence policy by purchasing tail coverage.

The claims made policy is more cost-effective if the chiropractor plans to practice 3 or more years and then purchases tail coverage. The occurrence policy is more cost-effective if the chiropractor is only going to practice for 1 or 2 years.