November 7, 2022 by matray

COVID Burnout Driving Dangerous Decline in Healthcare Workforce
COVID-related stress is exacerbating the number of healthcare workers leaving the medical profession, according to a newly released data report from the commercial intelligence company Definitive Healthcare. According to the data, as many as 333,942 healthcare workers exited the profession in 2021. An estimated 117,000 physicians, 53,295 nurse practitioners and 22,704 physician assistants left the medicine between the first quarter of 2020 and fourth quarter of 2021. The provider specialties experiencing the greatest declines during that period were internal medicine (15,000), family practice (13,015) and clinical psychology (10,874) …

NSO Report: Medical Liability Claim Costs for Nurse Practitioners Rising Sharply
The average total incurred costs for a medical liability claim against a nurse practitioner (NP) increased to $332,137, a jump of more than 10.5% since 2017, according to a newly released closed-claims report by the Nurses Service Organization (NSO), a division of Aon Affinity. The more than 10.5% increase in NP claim costs during the past five years more than doubles the 5.2% increase that the NSO recorded between 2012 and 2017 …

Predictions of Skyrocketing Medical Liability Claims Follow Pennsylvania Supreme Court’s Reversal of Medical Malpractice Venue Rule
In a decision causing quite a stir among medical professionals, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court recently reversed a 20-year-old rule regarding venue for medical malpractice actions. On Aug. 25, 2022, the high court adopted amendments to Pennsylvania Rules of Civil Procedure 1006, 2130, 2156 and 2179, which govern venue in medical malpractice actions. Prior to this decision, medical malpractice cases could be filed only in the county where the alleged adverse medical care or treatment occurred …

Physicians Insurance Introduces Criminal Defense Reimbursement Rider
Following the Supreme Court’s overturning of Roe v. Wade, Physicians Insurance A Mutual Co. introduced its Criminal Defense Reimbursement Coverage rider, which adds to its physician and hospital professional liability insurance coverage for the reimbursement of defense costs and legal fees incurred when responding to criminal allegations that arise from patient care. While medical professional liability policies have historically excluded coverage for criminal actions, the Criminal Defense Reimbursement Coverage rider provides up to $250,000 in coverage to reimburse an insured provider for the legal costs spent successfully defending against criminal charges involving direct patient care. Under the new coverage, criminal action is defined as a criminal proceeding following an arrest or indictment, an official request for extradition and/or a criminal or regulatory investigation that includes a medical board ...

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November 7, 2022 by matray

Medical malpractice trial lawyer and licensed nurse Suzanne M. Utke, RN, BSN, MHA, JD, has joined the Philadelphia office of Marshall, Dennehey, Warner, Coleman & Goggin PC as a shareholder in its Health Care Department. Previously, Utke was a partner at Weber Gallagher.

For more than two decades, Utke has represented physicians, nurses and all manner of health care professionals and corporate healthcare facilities against medical malpractice claims and lawsuits. Prior to earning her law degree, she had a successful career in medicine as a critical care nurse working in clinical settings. Utke also was a nursing administrator for several years, tenured in intensive care units, emergency rooms and obstetric departments.

“There are few medical malpractice attorneys in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania who possess the depth of experience in both law and medicine that Suzanne brings to the table,” said T. Kevin FitzPatrick, director of Marshall Dennehey’s Health Care Department. “Her nursing background and institutional knowledge of healthcare systems and operations give her the edge in defending medical professional liability claims, and she has the track record to prove it. We are delighted to welcome her aboard.”

Utke’s healthcare liability practice also focuses on the defense of behavioral health claims, as well as claims involving medical devices and associated liability. She represents physicians and physician practice groups in negotiation with healthcare systems for employment matters and mergers. Admitted to practice in both Pennsylvania and New Jersey, she has prevailed in defense verdicts appealed to the Pennsylvania and New Jersey Supreme Courts.

Utke’s academic background includes the Thomas Jefferson University School of Nursing where she earned her RN; a BSN in nursing from Widener University School of Nursing; a masters degree in health administration (MHA) from St. Joseph’s University; and a JD from the Widener University School of Law.

Utke is rated AV-Preeminent by Martindale-Hubbell, the highest rating for an attorney’s professional and ethical competence. Among her numerous professional affiliations, Utke is a member of the New Jersey Trial Attorneys Association, the Philadelphia Association of Defense Counsel, the Society of Healthcare Risk Managers (Philadelphia chapter), the Defense Research Institute (Medical Liability & Health Care Law, and Drug and Medical Device Committees) and the National Association of Professional Women.