The Doctor’s Advocate | First Quarter 2018
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Industry and Company News
A.M. Best Assigns “A” Excellent Rating to TDC Special Risk Insurance Company
A.M. Best has assigned a financial strength rating (FSR) of “A” (Excellent) to TDC Special Risk Insurance Company, a wholly owned subsidiary of The Doctors Company, and The Doctors Company Risk Retention Group. A.M. Best also assigned a long-term issuer credit rating (ICR) of “a” with a “stable” outlook.
Additionally, A.M. Best affirmed the FSR of “A” (Excellent) and ICR of “a” for The Doctors Company, An Interinsurance Exchange, and its wholly owned subsidiary, TDC Specialty Insurance Company. The outlook of these ratings is “stable.”
The A rating is assigned only to select companies with excellent ability to meet ongoing insurance policy and contract obligations. The “a” ICR is assigned to entities that have an excellent ability to meet their ongoing senior financial obligations.
A.M. Best stated that TDC Special Risk Insurance Company and the Risk Retention Group received these ratings due to their specific roles in the organization that provide growth opportunities in medical professional liability lines throughout the United States.
“Our financial strength is fundamental to our mission of advancing, protecting, and rewarding the practice of good medicine,” said Richard E. Anderson, MD, FACP, chairman and CEO. “We’re pleased that A.M. Best continues to recognize us for our stability and ability to serve our membership nationwide.”
Head of Underwriting Named
We recently announced Crystal R. Brown as senior vice president of underwriting. In her new role, Ms. Brown leads the company's underwriting operations nationally, reporting directly to Bill Fleming, chief operating officer.
Ms. Brown most recently served as healthcare zone leader for CNA Insurance in Chicago. At CNA, she oversaw a team of underwriting professionals at 10 branch offices who focused on the healthcare segment, including community and specialty hospitals, academic medical facilities, allied healthcare, accountable care organizations, large medical and academic groups, skilled nursing homes, assisted living centers, independent living facilities, life plan communities, and life science companies.
“We are very excited to have Crystal join The Doctors Company’s leadership team,” said Mr. Fleming. “With her broad experience with many types of healthcare organizations, she brings a deep understanding of the ever-changing healthcare environment and expertise in developing solutions for technically complex healthcare accounts across the enterprise. She will be a great asset in our work to provide expert guidance, resources, and coverage to our members no matter how they practice.”
Chief Investment Officer Selected
We recently selected T.C. Wilson as chief investment officer. In this new role, Mr. Wilson is responsible for oversight of the company’s $4 billion in invested assets, preserving and growing the $2 billion surplus, and providing input on 401k program investment options. He will report to Dave Preimesberger, chief financial officer.
Mr. Wilson most recently served as managing director of investments and institutional consulting director for The Optimal Service Group (OSG) of Wells Fargo Advisors in Williamsburg, Virginia, an investment consultant that specializes in advising the medical malpractice industry. At OSG, he was responsible for compiling and providing enterprise risk assessments, asset/liability studies, asset allocation recommendations, setting investment objectives, analyzing spending policies, portfolio attribution, and managing research for insurance company general account and surplus portfolios and smaller non-insurance investment portfolios.
“We are pleased to welcome T.C. to The Doctors Company’s finance team,” Mr. Preimesberger said. “At OSG, he was the lead investment consultant to The Doctors Company for 18 years, so he brings familiarity with our investment objectives. In this new position, he will assist in the development, management, and oversight of our investment program to ensure that our overall investment and growth objectives are met.”
The Doctor’s Advocate is published by The Doctors Company to advise and inform its members about loss prevention and insurance issues.
The guidelines suggested in this newsletter are not rules, do not constitute legal advice, and do not ensure a successful outcome. They attempt to define principles of practice for providing appropriate care. The principles are not inclusive of all proper methods of care nor exclusive of other methods reasonably directed at obtaining the same results.
The ultimate decision regarding the appropriateness of any treatment must be made by each healthcare provider considering the circumstances of the individual situation and in accordance with the laws of the jurisdiction in which the care is rendered.
The Doctor’s Advocate is published quarterly by Corporate Communications, The Doctors Company. Letters and articles, to be edited and published at the editor’s discretion, are welcome. The views expressed are those of the letter writer and do not necessarily reflect the opinion or official policy of The Doctors Company. Please sign your letters, and address them to the editor.
First Quarter 2018
Director's Forum
Nurse Practitioner Closed Claims Study
An Ounce of Prevention
Nurse Practitioner Closed Claims: Risk Mitigation Strategies
Government Relations Report
Damage Limits Protect Access to Healthcare
Training for Practice Managers and Other Staff
Foundation News
Foundation Grant Improves Hospitalist Communication
Innovations in Patient Safety
Leveraging Cardiology Data to Improve Care
The Back Page
Industry and Company News