Indemnity Insurance: Is Your Dental Practice Insured?

 

Indemnity Insurance: Is Your Dental Practice Insured?

In this blog post, I am going to discuss an essential topic that every doctor should be aware of. More often we read cases in the newspapers where a patient died or suffered negatively due to doctor’s negligence or patients or their relatives sued hospitals or doctors for their unprofessional conduct. These issues are very sensitive, due to some malpractices or negligence of doctors and also because some hospitals are trying to get more money by recommending unnecessary medical tests and treatments, people started looking at doctor’s community with distrust. It is found that there has been a rise in the patient’s awareness and the judiciary authorities are more consumer-friendly now and have been asking doctors or hospitals to compensate their mistakes.

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According to a 2013 survey by Dr.Ashish Jha of Harvard School of Public Health, India recorded 5.2 million medico-legal cases in a year, for an incorrect prescription, wrong timing, and errors in surgery, incorrect drug, and dosage. Therefore, to protect doctors from the above financial risk, a special financial cover known as Professional Indemnity Insurance (PII) is introduced.

 

What is Professional Indemnity Insurance?

Doctors are the professionals who face the risk of financial liability while practicing their profession. The amount they can be sued can be very high. Therefore they need a special financial cover to protect themselves financially when they are sued for unprofessional conduct, negligence or mistakes during treatments.

In short, Professional Indemnity Insurance (PII) is an insurance policy specially meant for professionals like doctors, lawyers, Charted Accountants etc to cover liability falling on them as a result of errors, negligence, mistakes committed by them while rendering their professional service.

 

What does PII policy cover?

The policy covers all sums which the insured Doctor becomes legally liable to pay as damages to the third party in respect of any error or negligence committed while rendering professional service. Professional Indemnity Policy covers against following:

1. Professional Negligence

2. Unintentional breach of copyright or confidentiality

3. Loss of documents or data

4. Claim investigation costs

5. Offense & insult

6. Loss of goods or money

What PII does not cover?

1. Intentional damage

2. Claims and circumstances known before issuance of the policy

3. Act of Terrorism or war

4. Contractual liability

5. Insolvency of the insured

 

 

Which insurance companies provide PII for Doctors in India?

Insurance companies like United India Insurance, The New India Assurance Co. Pvt. Ltd., Reliance General Insurance, ICICI Lombard GIC Ltd, offer PII policy coverage for Doctors in India.

How to select the sum assured?

In professional Indemnity Policy, the sum insured is referred to as Limit of Indemnity. This limit is fixed per accident and per policy period which is called Any One Accident (AOA) limit and Any One Year (AOY) limit respectively.

The AOA limit, which is the maximum amount payable by the doctor for each accident, should be fixed depending upon the nature of treatment and the worst possible damage that could happen to the patient.

 

How to claim?

In case you feel that any event will likely to give rise to a liability claim, you should inform your insurance company immediately.

In case you receive any legal notice or summons, it should be sent to the insurance company. The company has the authority to arrange defense on your behalf.

The maximum amount payable will also include defense cost which will be included in AOA limit selected. The AOY limit will get reduced by the amount of claim paid for any one accident. Any number of such claims should not exceed the AOY limit.

How much does it cost?

Normally the premium for PII is 0.30% to 1 % of the amount insured. So if you wish to get a professional indemnity insurance for sum insured of 5 Lakh; then your premium may range from Rs.450 to 5000 The premiums may vary from company to company as well as depending on the doctor’s specialty, seniority, practice, equipment used etc. majorly. It will be a year policy, every year the doctor has to enter into a fresh agreement.

 

What if you don’t have a PII cover?

Indian patients treat doctors as next to God, but now the situation is changing. The fact is that Doctors are also humans who can commit mistakes during treatment. Hence it completely makes sense to have professional indemnity insurance to secure your dental/ medical practice.

Source : DentistFriend

Dental Practice Management: Grow and Let Others Grow!

 

Dental Practice Management: Grow and Let Others Grow!

Dear All,

It is in almost every group or discussion forum, there is a discussion of fellow dentist criticizing/badmouthing the other in front of patients or ridiculing his/her work or charges. Unfortunately, in our profession, unlike hotel management students, we do not undergo a grooming school, and our work behavior is based on what we learnt in the clinic we did our observer ship. All of a sudden, from doctors we become businessman from the 1st day of our clinic opening. Though, not any expert or fault free, after 8 years of practice, I feel mature enough to share my thoughts to fresher who are about to start or recently got into practice.

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1. Stay Focused:

Your practice doesn’t grow 1% by bringing down someone else’s name nor would the other practice go down even 0.5% with your fruitless efforts. Concentrate on your work.

 

2. Filter Unnecessary Talks:

Patients would love to share their bad experiences with previous dentist. Curtail those talks and stick to basics of chief complaint, followed by diagnosis and treatment plan.

 

3. Use Alternate Terminology:

Instead of telling the patient, “Bahot bekaar filling ki hai aapki” “Filling you are having is hopeless” modify your talks like, “There are some issues with the filling and hopefully I will be able to address them better.”

 

4. Learn From Those Who Run Referral Practice:

Your oral surgeon doesn’t tell the patient that you have messed up a 3rd molar extraction. He simply does it and sends the patients. He is even ready to bear the complications which you might have made. Treat patients from other clinics in a similar way.

 

5. Keep Your Charges Justified:

Sky has no limit, but ground has. Keep your charges for every procedure in a justified manner. Keeping them too low cannot kill your competitor. Moreover, you lose growth and clinical expansion.

 

6. Don’t Be Overawed:

Meeting dentists from metros, don’t be influenced by their lifestyle of Mercs and BMWs. It is just a part. You never know what they went through to achieve this, including legal battles and strokes. But they have the best lawyers and best hospitals to keep them running. So run a healthy practice and have patience.

 

7. Stay Connected:

Meet your colleagues to share knowledge not grudges or discuss charges.

8. Do Not Out Rightly Reject Fellow Dentist’s Treatment Plan:

Everyone has his own way of thinking. If the other feels, his way would provide relief and long term solution, respect it. Be a doctor, not judge. Tell the patient, “I would or I can do it this way, please make a decision and chose your treating doctor.”

 

9. Stay Alive:

Don’t leave your hobbies. Cricket, music or dance or whatever, for me photography as a recent hobby, relaxes you so much that you, by default, stays away from unnecessary stuff. Don’t leave them, rather inculcate one.

 

10.Take Care Of Yourself:

Dentistry is a killer. It will break your back and neck. Let it not break your heart by going green with jealousy.

 

As always, keep smiling!

Source : DentistFriend

Diabetes and Yeast Infections - 5 Things Every Diabetic Should Know

 

As a result of high blood sugar levels and immune system dysfunction, diabetics are prone to more frequent and more serious infections than non-diabetic persons. Among these infections, yeast ranks among the most common and in fact sometimes leads to the diagnosis of diabetes.

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Is this dangerous? Is there anything a person can do about the situation?

Here are 5 things every diabetic should know about yeast infections:

1. Vaginal yeast infections - don't skip this one men - there are some things here you need to know, too. Yeast thrive in a warm, moist environment, especially when there's plenty of food, i.e. excess sugar. There are always a few yeast in the neighborhood, but other "good" germs normally crowd them out. In diabetes, the yeast may grow in abundance and become like crabgrass: once it takes hold, it's hard to eliminate. If you have never been diagnosed with diabetes but have been getting more than your share of yeast infections, or have had trouble being cured of a yeast infection, consult your doctor - you may be diabetic.

Usually yeast is not a sexually transmitted disease, but in a diabetic it can be, especially if both partners are diabetic. Other STDs may be more easily transmitted as well if fragile tissues are already irritated from a yeast infection. Women who are suffering from vaginal itching and burning are also less likely to be interested in intercourse. Because the symptoms of yeast infections, urine infections, and STDs overlap women sometimes mistake one for the other.

If you are diabetic and suffering from prolonged or recurrent yeast infections you should talk to your doctor. You may need to control your blood sugars more effectively. You may need a prolonged course of anti-yeast medication. You may need a combination of oral and topical medications. You may need to be checked for another type of infection that mimics yeast.

2. Thrush (oral yeast infection). Yeast infection in the mouth is common in diabetics who don't have their blood sugars well controlled, especially in patients with dentures. Thrush has a variety of presentations. Often it appears as white spots that coat the inside of the cheeks or the tongue. Sometimes the mouth looks raw or irritated. Other people complain of a change in taste or sore feeling even though the tissues appear normal. Oral thrush indicates a need for better sugar control, better oral hygiene, or both. It may require oral medication, topical medication, or both, and may occur at the same time as a yeast infection elsewhere in the body.

3. Intertrigo (yeast infections in warm skin folds). Intertrigo is especially common in men and women who have folds of overlapping skin that remain moist. Common areas include the axilla (armpit), groin, under the breast, and under the belly. Intertrigo appears as a red or pink rash, usually flat (not bumpy), that is often moist, and may have an unpleasant odor or itching. Again the cure lies in controlling blood sugars, keeping the area dry, and medication. Topical creams such as Lotrimin or Lamisil are effective. If itching is prominent, OTC hydrocortisone may be added. Wearing a cotton T-shirt or underwear helps keep the area dry.

4. Antibiotic-related yeast infections. Diabetics who take antibiotics for respiratory or other infections are at high risk of developing any of the above conditions. The antibiotics kill off many normal germs (normal flora), and allow yeast to take hold. A yeast infection may show up while a patient is taking the antibiotic or up to a few weeks later. Those who take daily antibiotics for conditions such as acne or rosacea are especially at risk. The key to prevention is minimizing antibiotic exposure. Don't request an antibiotic for a cold you've only had a few days. If you must continue an antibiotic for some reason, you may need to take a prolonged course of anti-yeast medication as well. One approach for diabetics who tend to get yeast infections is to begin a yeast medication prophylactically as soon as an antibiotic is begun. Ask your doctor what the best plan is for you.

5. Steroid-related yeast infections. It's not uncommon for a diabetic patient to suffer a separate condition (such as arthritis or asthma) for which steroid medications are prescribed. Steroids alone predispose to yeast infections, but doubly so in a diabetic, since they may raise blood sugar levels. Steroid pills, IVs, injections, and inhalers all predispose to yeast infections. If you use a steroid inhaler, make sure you follow the directions about rinsing your mouth afterward. If you receive an injection in your knee for arthritis, be aware that elevated blood sugar readings and thrush may follow. For persons taking steroids on a prolonged basis, daily yeast medication may be required.

It's rare that a yeast infection would be more serious than the situations described above. If you're diabetic and having trouble with recurrent or prolonged infections, ask your doctor if there are any special measures you should take. If your blood sugar isn't controlled, develop a plan with your physician to take control of the situation.

  Source:  EzineArticles 

Myths & Facts About Doctors

 

Myths & Facts About Doctors

Myth 1: "Only medical profession is a noble profession"

 

Fact: Every profession, whether of a teacher, soldier, tailor or shopkeeper, is noble, if done with sincerity and integrity. A careless doctor can kill one, a careless  driver can kill dozens, a careless engineer can kill hundreds..

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Myth 2: "As it is a service to humanity, doctors should not run after money."

 

Fact: Money is an important measure of success. Running after it is not good for anybody, but earning more money by doing more work is not a moral crime. And all who advising doctors, themselves running after money, aren't they?

 

Myth 3: "Most of the time, doctors do not understand the disease and write unnecessary and costly drugs and advise tests and treat on a trial basis."

 

Fact: First of all, the doctor patient relationship is based on trust, if you do not trust your doctor, go to another one. Medical science is a lifelong learning process, and all treatment, to some extent is based on trial and error. The same medicine, which works for one patient may not work on another. 

 

Second, the responsibility of providing quality drugs at affordable prices lies not with the doctor, but with the state authorities, just like providing for better roads, unadulterated quality food and dairy products, uninterrupted power and water supply etc and etc. Like cloths, cars and mobile phones, costly drugs are generally better than cheap ones. However, if the government makes it mandatory to write generics, it should ensure quality and the consequence of poor/non efficacy should not be blamed on doctors.

 

Third, tests are done for patient’s own safety. Just like wearing a helmet or seat belt, investigations increase the safety. Most of the doctors in india are trained to work on clinical hunch and common sense and not rely too much on tests, and advise much less tests than what is actually written in the book or done in the developed world.

 

Myth 4: "Treatment costs are increasing irrationally."

 

Fact: As compared to western world, treatment costs in India are still very low, and many foreigners are coming here for this reason. And it would be worthwhile to think about any other service or product with as rapid advancement in technology and equipment as medical science, whose cost is not increasing

 

Myth 5: "Doctors are next to God."

 

Fact: Doctors are as human as can be. They also get tired, fall sick, have family commitments, get upset and stressed sometimes and can suffer from all the frailties of a human being. If anyone wanted to be treated by God then they can visit the temple.

Source : DentistFriend

5 Time Management Tips For Private Dental Practitioners

 

5 Time Management Tips For Private Dental Practitioners

Time once gone does not come back. Therefore, it is essential to utilize every minute of life in a useful way. Every day, dentists are facing various cases in their dental career and have several other responsibilities too. This makes it necessary for us to stay active round the clock. If you can manage your time well, then you can achieve all the best around you.

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Here are some of the best time management strategies which will help you utilize your time well without getting stressed or aging too soon! 

 

1. Plan your day: 

Get up early in the morning and plan your day for just 10-15 minutes. Write down the tasks in a sequence of the priority. For instance, write in the arrangement of high, medium and low priorities. Then execute them. You can even have virtual assistants for yourself to handle the routine online tasks. Trust me; this saves an ample of time on daily basis. 

 

2. Stay on top of your appointments:

As a dentist, it is your prime responsibility to make sure that every patient is served well and his dental problems are cured at the earliest possible time. Make sure you give the time to every patient in a range and not exactly in hours. This is because you can have an extended patient procedure. It will make the next patient wait for too long. So, don’t over promise. Just be flexible and make this clear to your patients too. They will thank you for your genuine concern! 

 

3. Use technology:

Yes! Make technology your friend. Make sure that you gradually start utilizing various time-saving apps. These apps serve the best for everyone irrespective of your experience of using such apps. Put reminders and just focus on your patient cases. You will get reminder alarms at the set time. You can then finish off your tasks. Just use one app and keep things simple. I assure you that you will never forget any of your tasks throughout the day. 

 

4. Automate whenever possible:

You can use various invoicing and patient payment software to make your clinic’s accounting smoother and faster. These days there are several levels of software available for the dentists and dental clinics. Always talk to the respective company regarding how they will save your time with their innovative services. Get the best one for your clinic. Remember that automation is for the long term, so make sure you choose the best one. 

 

5. Be prepared for emergencies:

You are a doctor, and in the clinic, you can anytime face an emergency. So you need to be prepared for it. Educate your team at the dental clinic regarding the common type of emergencies which usually happen in the dental clinics. Make sure they have a clear concept of it. It ensures that you don’t waste valuable time at such crucial moment. 

 

Thus, every dentist can utilize these simple yet effective strategies to ensure a boost in their dental career. Time is highly valuable. Value your time, and it will value you twice. 

Source : DentistFriend

Will GST Put Dentistry In A Big Loss Or We Can Outperform Against GST?

 

Will GST Put Dentistry In A Big Loss Or We Can Outperform Against GST?

I am Dr. Nilesh Bhimani (B.D.S.), a senior Dental Surgeon from Surat (Guj.) & I would like to throw some lights on effect of GST on Dentistry! Goods and service tax (GST) is one of the most revolutionary step in history of Indian Tax System and future will witness it's real effect. Healthcare services are exempt from GST according to GST Act, 2016. So we don't need to charge GST on out treatment charges as we are not selling products, we provide only healthcare services.

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There is a lot of buzz about GST; I see many people are talking and discussing whether GST is good or bad on the contrary I know many dentists who neither care for the GST effects nor even willing to know how it is actually going to affect the future of private dental practice. I am writing this blog for all those dentists who are curious & wish to know the after effects of GST with the hope that you will take it positively.

 

Let's understand how GST is going to affect future and success of your private dental practice. Here are few points which I noticed and would want you to pay attention.

 

A. All standard Laboratories have transform tax statement from 5% VAT to 12% GST, means 7% rise on lab bills.

 

B. All material companies have changed taxation from 5-12% to 12-18% or up to 28% in few cases, means 7-16% rise in billing. 

It's a big amount really..!

 

C. My clinic electricity, telephone , SMC tax, stationary, maintenance, printing, magazines or other monthly based expenses rise from 5% VAT to 12% GST, means 7% rise.

 

D. My clinic Insurance, Membership fees, Conferences fees etc will be also raising to some extent.

 

E. My staff salaries, doctor's salaries etc will have to be raised in coming months as they have to compensate for their increased expenses due to implementation of GST.

 

F. Most important is my personal expenses.

 

Now onwards my life insurance policies, general insurance policies, lifestyle expenses, food bills, school fees, Tuition fees, shopping , holidays (which is maximum like 28% on luxury holidays)everything I do on my day to day expenses will rise like anything. Friends, We say everyone that we don't need to add GST on patients treatment bills because we are exempted.

 

But are we really exempted on GST even after paying all above expenses?

There is only one solution for all above and that's none other than RAISE YOUR TREATMENT CHARGES!

 

From 1 July onwards minimum 10% rise on your treatment charges would only compensate for the GST which you will pay now onwards & don't think that you have raised charges, instead you have compensated your loss only.! In addition, 6-8% is your inflation rate which means every year your cost of same expenses increases at this rate over a period of one year. So 6-8% hike in charges will again compensates loss of steady income year by year.

 

So Friends, 16-18% (10% GST effect + 6-8% Inflation) rise in your treatment charges will only make you stable in your income year by year. Those who can add more than 18% rise in charges are real brave dentist and I will be happy to add them in my friend list. In fact, this is the best chance to raise your chrages as a momentum. Agreed people will ask you that it is not in your branch but you can tell them that your lab bills, material expense, clinic expense everything rise by more than 10-15% and so you have no other option if you want to justify but most of the times people will automatically justify you without asking about it.

 

I have tried to give you some striking GST effects on your dental practice. Hope we all put a step ahead for a successful dental carrier! Try it today..! Keep Smiling

Source : DentistFriend