The Doctor’s Advocate | Third Quarter 2019
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Industry and Company News
Two New Board Members Appointed
We welcome two newly appointed board members to our Board of Governors.
Daniel Kent Cassavar, MD, MBA, was most recently president and chief medical officer of ProMedica Physicians, a healthcare network of specialized hospitals, facilities, researchers, physicians, and advanced practice providers headquartered in Toledo, Ohio, and serving 28 states. ProMedica is renowned for its medical excellence, strong physician culture, and commitment to community service. Prior to joining ProMedica, Dr. Cassavar was an interventional cardiologist at Northwest Ohio Cardiology Consultants and a founding member of Cardiocare Consultants.
“We are pleased to welcome Dr. Cassavar to our board,” said Richard E. Anderson, MD, FACP, chairman and CEO. “His experience as a physician leader with a strong clinical background and remarkable success in leading a 975-provider network will be a wonderful complement to our mission to advance the practice of good medicine.”
Dr. Cassavar is a diplomate of the American Board of Internal Medicine and certified in interventional cardiology and cardiovascular diseases. He is a fellow of the American College of Physicians and the American College of Cardiology and a member of the American Medical Association, the Toledo and Michigan chapters of the American College of Cardiology, the American Heart Association, the American College of Chest Physicians, and the Society of Vascular Medicine.
After graduating from the Medical College of Ohio, Dr. Cassavar completed his residency at St. Mary Medical Center of UCLA, was chief fellow of Cardiovascular Medicine at Providence Hospital and Medical Centers in Michigan, and earned an MBA from the University of Michigan, Ross School of Business.
Howard Mills is the former global insurance regulatory leader of Deloitte. Prior to joining Deloitte in 2007, he served as superintendent of the New York State Insurance Department (now known as the Department of Financial Services). He also served as a leader at the National Association of Insurance Commissioners and the International Association of Insurance Supervisors, as a member of the presidential Financial and Banking Information Infrastructure Committee, and as co-chair of the International Commission on Holocaust Era Insurance Claims.
Mr. Mills serves on the Board of Directors of the Insurance Federation of New York, as a trustee of the Griffith Insurance Education Foundation, and as a member of the International Insurance Society. He has testified before Congress on matters impacting the insurance industry and served three terms in the New York State Assembly, including a term as deputy minority leader.
“We are pleased to have Howard Mills as a member of our board,” said Dr. Anderson. “His expertise in the New York, federal, and international insurance regulatory environments; decades-long experience in public policy as an elected and appointed official; and deep understanding of enterprise risk management will provide critical insight into the impacts of regulations on our business model and strategy—and support our commitment to protecting the practice of good medicine.”
Mr. Mills earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from Marist College and a master’s degree in public administration from American University. He completed a course of study in politics, philosophy, and economics at Mansfield College, Oxford.
Fitch Ratings Affirms Our “A” Ratings
Fitch Ratings has affirmed its “A” (Strong) Insurer Financial Strength ratings for The Doctors Company and our wholly owned insurance subsidiaries. Fitch also announced that the rating outlook for all ratings is “Stable.”
Fitch stated that the ratings are based on our very strong statutory capital position and sufficient loss reserve levels and noted that The Doctors Company is one of the few primary medical professional liability companies positioned to offer products and capabilities that accommodate the trend of healthcare providers moving toward employment with hospitals and large medical groups.
Fitch also stated that our plan to acquire Hospitals Insurance Company and FOJP Service Corporation, which provides three New York hospitals and related physicians with medical malpractice insurance, will further solidify our operating scale in the medical professional liability insurance space.
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.
Third Quarter 2019
An Ounce of Prevention
Advanced Practice Provider Closed Claims: What Can We Learn?
Government Relations Report
Legislative Advocacy Update
New Guide on Ending Patient Relationships
Foundation News
Foundation Supports Study on Perioperative Medication Errors
The Alzheimer’s Project Adds CME Courses
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Industry and Company News