OB Patient Safety Credit Program: Frequently Asked Questions
General Questions
Our voluntary program is open to all qualifying member obstetricians, family practitioners providing obstetrical care, certified nurse-midwives (CNMs), and certified midwives (CMs) actively involved in deliveries.
Your policy’s underwriter determines eligibility. Your agent, broker, or patient safety risk manager can contact the Underwriting Department for you.
Exclusion of the Advanced Practice Clinicians (APC) Program: CNMs and CMs are not eligible to participate if they are purchasing their own coverage through the APC program. If they are written on a medical professional liability (MPL) policy with other practitioners, they may still qualify for the OB Premium Credit Program. Consult with Underwriting to confirm program eligibility.
Phase One offers continuing education credits for a series of on-demand courses addressing the most common obstetrical claims. Qualifying members who successfully meet the requirements can receive a patient safety credit of up to 10 percent applied to their next two policy renewal periods. Assigned courses are available from The Sullivan Group.
Phase Two offers continuing education credits for courses addressing postpartum discharge, hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, and postpartum hemorrhage. Qualifying members who successfully meet the requirements can receive a patient safety credit of up to 10 percent applied to their next two policy renewal periods. Assigned courses are available from The Sullivan Group.
Phase Three rewards providers who earn certification in electronic fetal monitoring (EFM) from the National Certification Corporation Electronic Fetal Monitoring or the Inteleos, Electronic Fetal Monitoring Credentialing Program. (Note: The Doctors Company does not endorse a specific credentialing organization.) Qualifying members who successfully meet the requirements can receive a patient safety credit of up to 10 percent applied to their next three policy renewal periods.
Phase Four offers continuing education credits for courses addressing risk and liabilities in labor and obstetric management, late-term induction, preterm labor use of magnesium sulfate, peripartum cardiomyopathy, and maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality. Assigned courses are available from The Sullivan Group.
Phase Five requires member participation in a Practice Risk INSIGHT assessment that includes the OB/GYN-specific addendum. Follow-up coaching and consultation are provided to implement and sustain the improvement/action plans.
Phase Six will be a repeat of Phase Three. It requires members to earn EFM certification. Qualifying members who complete the requirements will receive a patient safety credit of up to 10 percent applied to their next three policy renewal periods. Review Phase Three for the qualifying certifications and credit process.
Phase Seven is a repeat of Phase One. Assigned courses may be upgraded from the initial completion.
Phase Eight is a repeat of Phase Two. Assigned courses may be upgraded from the initial completion.
Your policy’s underwriter determines eligibility. Your agent, broker, or patient safety risk manager will contact the Underwriting Department on your behalf.
Phases One, Two, Four, Seven, and Eight: OB Courses
Participation in the OB Patient Safety Credit Program requires completing the assigned courses through The Sullivan Group.
All courses must be completed within the calendar year in which the first course began.
Most courses can be completed in two hours. A course does not need to be completed all at once. Because the courses are on demand, you have 24/7 access and can log in or out without losing your place.
The Sullivan Group, the coursework provider, extends a discounted rate to members of The Doctors Company. For assistance, contact your patient safety risk manager.
Members must show they have successfully completed the assigned courses by providing a copy of each course certificate to the patient safety risk manager.
Phases Three and Six: EFM Certification
EFM certification is required through the National Certification Corporation or the Inteleos, Electronic Fetal Monitoring Credentialing Program.
The EFM certification process must be completed at least 60 days prior to policy renewal.
Members can select a program offered by two credentialing organizations, the National Certification Corporation Electronic Fetal Monitoring or Inteleos, Electronic Fetal Monitoring Credentialing Program. (Note: The Doctors Company does not endorse a specific organization.) Refer to the National Certification Corporation or the Inteleos websites for cost information.
Find details on the National Certification Corporation at https://www.nccwebsite.org.
Find details on Inteleos, Electronic Fetal Monitoring Credentialing at https://www.inteleos.org/fmc/.
Practitioners who have already earned EFM certification from one of these two organizations may submit a copy of the certificate to their patient safety risk manager.
No. All Phases must be completed consecutively for their appropriate years of credit. For example, if at the end of the two years covered by the initial Phase One credit, you are interested in taking Phase Two, the underwriter must reevaluate the policy for eligibility. It is not an automatic process. When the policy credit for each subsequent Phase is complete, the underwriter will reevaluate the policy for the next Phase eligibility.
The patient safety credit is valid and applied according to the program: two policy years for Phases One, Two, Four, Five, Seven, and Eight, and three policy years for Phases Three and Six.
Phase Five
The Practice Risk INSIGHT assessment with the OB/GYN-specific addendum may be completed onsite or virtually at the patient safety risk manager’s discretion. Contact your patient safety risk manager for a detailed description of the process.
How to Get Started
Contact your agent, broker, or patient safety risk manager to find out if you qualify for the OB Patient Safety Credit Program. Learn more in our program brochure or contact Patient Safety and Risk Management at (800) 421-2368 or email us at patientsafety@thedoctors.com.