October 10, 2024 by matray

LAMMICO congratulates Lafayette Surgical Specialty Hospital in Lafayette, La., the recipient of the 9^th Annual LAMMICO Patient Safety Award and Grant. The 2023-2024 Patient Safety Award and Grant centered on falls prevention. Preventing patient falls is a top priority for patient safety, patient satisfaction, quality reputation and cost reduction. Patient falls may result in injuries such as lacerations, fractures, intracranial bleeding and death. Compared to patients who do not suffer falls, those with fall-induced injuries stay in the hospital longer and incur higher hospital costs. To decrease patient falls in the hospital or ambulatory surgery setting, a multifaceted approach with standardized and customized interventions is needed. Developing an evidence-based falls prevention program is essential. This grant program encouraged participating hospitals to tackle this challenge and reduce their patient fall rates.

Grant applicants completed falls prevention online courses in LAMMICO’s learning management system. These courses focused on information about falls, recommended interventions for falls prevention programs, and how staff can help prevent patient falls.

By demonstrating the best improvements (in policies, procedures, protocols and/or processes) related to a reduction in patient fall rates after completing this risk management and patient safety education, Lafayette Surgical Specialty Hospital (LSSH) was awarded:

• $10,000 grant for nursing professional development
• One-year Risk Manager membership to the American Society for Healthcare Risk Management (ASHRM)

One of the steps taken by the team at LSSH to prevent falls included staff helping all patients with dressing. A “Call Before You Fall” program was implemented throughout the hospital. It included educational patient signage. The staff placed all patients in a chair or on the side of the bed with the side rails up, rather than on the side of the bed, while a wheelchair was obtained for discharge. LSSH had a 40% decrease in patient falls for the three-month post-education period, as compared to the three-month pre-education period.

Specialists Hospital Shreveport in Shreveport, La., is the second place participant of the Patient Safety Award and Grant. A grant of $5,000 for nursing professional development and a one-year Risk Manager membership to ASHRM was presented to this hospital in recognition of this honor.

After participating in the grant program, Specialists Hospital Shreveport learned that one of the best falls prevention steps is to better educate staff. They updated their falls prevention policy and procedures. They also developed an educational presentation that is used during new staff orientation to teach falls prevention strategies.

LAMMICO commends these two hospitals and all others who submitted award applications, for their commitment to improving patient safety.

October 7, 2024 by matray

Preverity, a provider of clinical risk analytics and patient safety solutions, and Graves Gilbert Clinic, a  healthcare provider in South Central Kentucky, have announced a strategic partnership to enhance patient safety and risk mitigation efforts.

According to the companies, this collaboration marks a significant step forward in healthcare, combining Preverity's  data analytics capabilities with Graves Gilbert Clinic's commitment to delivering exceptional patient care.  Through this partnership, Graves Gilbert Clinic will leverage Preverity's analytics to gain deeper insights into patient safety outcomes and physician practice patterns.

"We are proud to partner with Graves Gilbert Clinic, an organization renowned for its dedication to patient care," said Gene Boerger, Preverity President & COO.  "Our combined expertise will empower Graves Gilbert Clinic with data-driven insights to optimize patient safety protocols and reinforce their commitment to providing exceptional healthcare."

Preverity's platform will provide Graves Gilbert Clinic with:

• Timely and accurate intelligence on clinical activities.


• Benchmarks against national, regional, and system standards.


• Insights into factors influencing physician risk.


• Tools to enhance patient safety protocols.

October 1, 2024 by matray

AM Best has affirmed The Doctors Company's financial strength rating (FSR) of A (Excellent) and its long-term issuer credit rating (ICR) of "a+". The outlook of these ratings is stable.

The FSR of A (Excellent) and the long-term ICR of "a+" (Excellent) have been affirmed for the following:

• The Doctors Company, an Interinsurance Exchange


• TDC National Assurance Company


• TDC Specialty Insurance Company


• TDC Special Risks Insurance Company


• The Doctors Company Risk Retention Group, a Reciprocal Exchange

Additionally, AM Best has upgraded the long-term ICR of Hospitals Insurance Company (HIC) to "a+" (Excellent) from "a" (Excellent) and affirmed its FSR of "A" (Excellent). HIC is a subsidiary of The Doctors Company.

The FSR of A is assigned only to select companies with excellent ability to meet ongoing insurance obligations. The "a+" ICR is assigned to entities that have an excellent ability to meet their ongoing senior financial obligations.

"These ratings from AM Best reflect the strength and stability of our company and reinforce our vision to build the preeminent organization for service to healthcare," said Richard E. Anderson, MD, FACP, Chairman and CEO of The Doctors Company and TDC Group. "Our financial strength allows us to help healthcare professionals meet the challenges of a constantly shifting landscape and better serve our members."

October 1, 2024 by matray

LAMMICO announced a new strategic partnership with the Mississippi Hospital Association (MHA) as its endorsed medical professional liability carrier. The MHA is the statewide agency for healthcare representation and service to all hospitals and healthcare networks, as well as the patients and communities they serve. MHA is comprised of more than 100 hospitals, healthcare systems, networks, care providers and a pool of over 50,000 employees.

“The LAMMICO team is excited to enter this partnership and earn this endorsement from MHA,” said J. Michael Conerly, MD, LAMMICO president and chief executive. “With our experience in providing medical professional liability insurance for hospitals and other healthcare facilities in the South, this is a wonderful opportunity for us to work with those that provide care to the citizens of Mississippi. We look forward to upholding our purpose, ‘we protect those who care for others.’”

“LAMMICO’s commitment to patient safety and improving quality outcomes aligns with MHA’s mission and will greatly benefit hospitals and their patients. We look forward to introducing this new partner to our communities and we are pleased to welcome LAMMICO to the MHA family”, said Richard Roberson, Mississippi Hospital Association president and chief executive.