July 21, 2010
Doug Wojcieszak, Founder & Spokesperson
Contact phone/e-mail address: 618-559-8168;
doug@sorryworks.net
Subject Line: Another Professional Liability Company Joins Disclosure Ranks...
We continually say in this forum that disclosure is a movement....a movement not just in big hospitals with employed physicians, but also community hospitals with independent physicians, private practices, and liability companies covering independent physicians as well as hospitals. It's a nationwide and worldwide movement in the healthcare, insurance, and legal industries. Well, the movement is growing with the addition of another professional liability company: The Cooperative of American Physicians, Inc., or CAP.
CAP is based in Los Angeles and covers approximately 10,500 physicians in all specialties across the Golden State. CAP's new disclosure program is called CAP CARES. Directly below bolded is the language from the CAP Cares link on the company's website. Note the emphasis on preserving the doctor- patient-family relationship post-adverse event, and helping providers through the challenging conversations necessary to save relationships. Also, the CAP staff believes its program is unique from a physician based professional liability company's perspective in that it is beginning to reach out to hospitals and hospitals risk managers where CAP physicians have privileges and incorporate these organizations into their disclosure program.
"CAP Cares is an early intervention program designed to assist members in managing adverse outcomes arising from patient care. The goal of CAP Cares is to encourage early physician-patient communication and to provide support to CAP physician members and their patients who experience an adverse outcome.
CAP defines an "adverse outcome" as either a known risk of medical care (a complication) or medical error. In both instances, CAP Cares assists our physician members in managing "adverse outcomes" and preserving the physician-patient relationship.
Our CAP Cares team is ready 24 hours a day, seven days a week to assist our members when the adverse outcome is recognized. By calling the CAP Hotline at 800-252-0555, you will be directed to an experienced CAP Cares Risk Management & Patient Safety Specialist. CAP Cares will provide personal guidance in areas such as:
- Assisting with fact gathering.
- Working through thoughtful analysis of the adverse outcome.
- Preparing for the conversation with the patient and family.
- Anticipating questions which will likely be raised.
- Coordinating with appropriate hospital personnel and other involved providers."
We believe the CAP CARES program is pointed in the right direction. CAP Cares will handle any size case, small or large (crippling injury, death, etc), and work with patients and families represented by counsel. It seems to us CAP has enlightened and empowered risk and claims folks. Bravo! They appear to want prompt resolutions to all matters that are fair to all sides, providers included.
CAP Cares is a new program that, like any new program, will grow and develop over time. To help this growth process, last Monday, Sorry Works! Founder Doug Wojcieszak spent the day with CAP CARES team to discuss Sorry Works! and disclosure. Included in the room were several of their in-house attorneys who represent CAP, which was a welcome sight. In short, it was a great day...including reviewing hypothetical cases for over an hour with the risk management and patient safety team. Great discussion, great group of people, and a lot of learning. Sorry Works! wishes them the best and looks forward to their success helping the Golden State's physicians, patients, and families.
To learn more how Sorry Works! can help your insurance company or hospital, call 618-559-8168 or e-mail doug@sorryworks.net.
Sincerely,
- Doug
Doug Wojcieszak, Founder
Sorry Works!
PO Box 531
Glen Carbon, IL 62034
618-559-8168 (direct dial)
doug@sorryworks.net
|
