Partners in Prevention

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Thank You!
FOGS and the Florida Section ACOG recognize their corporate supporters
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Liability Issues Report
Please use this form liberally to report the related practice problems you are facing
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On Call Medical Coats
FOGS has teamed up with On Call Medical Coats to offer our members quality embroidered labcoats
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FOGS Endorsed Malpractice Carrier offering a 5% discount to FOGS members
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Lubell & Rosen
FOGS Endorsed
Pre-Paid Legal Defense
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Your practice could receive a dividend of up to 24.8% of your workers compensation premium.
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Partners in Prevention

The Florida Obstetrics and Gynecological Society has enjoyed its partnership with First Professionals Insurance Company since 1997. For over 7 years, FPIC has been a major sponsor of the programs FOGS has developed. Not only does FPIC offer monetary sponsorship, they also provide many benefits that often go unnoticed. Annual updates on the medical malpractice environment are provided to the Board of FOGS and FPIC is always available to answer questions. Risk management is always a part of our annual meeting and it is provided by the outstanding Risk Management Department of FPIC.

While rates have continued to rise for professional liability insurance, FOGS has continued its relationship with FPIC in order to maintain a thumb on the pulse of that industry. While much of the industry news and data in recent years has not been good for our profession, it is imperative that we maintain our close relationship with the industry leader, and continue to utilize their talents to promote effective loss prevention, help mitigate loss exposure, and aggressively defend non-meritorious claims.

In continuing their efforts in loss mitigation, FPIC has worked diligently on new specialty specific loss prevention guides for certain high-risk procedures. With a focus on "Reducing Gynecological Liability", they have produced a Breast Cancer guide and a Cervical Cancer guide. With a focus on "Reducing Obstetric Liability", they have produced guides pertaining to Indications for Placental Examination, Amniocentesis, Shoulder Dystocia, Vaginal Birth After C-Section (VBAC), Ectopic Pregnancy, and finally Preeclampsia/Eclampsia. These guides are presently available to all FPIC insureds.

In addition, FPIC has developed a relationship with Rightfield Solutions, LLC, the makers of EMMI. EMMI, Expectation Management and Medical Information, is an informed consent tool that is available via the Internet. Patients may view it either in their physician's office or in their own home, to familiarize themselves with the procedure they are about to undergo.

As an example, a patient scheduled to undergo a CSection is provided with a code generated on your office computer with EMMI Software. The patient then goes to the EMMI website and enters this code, which allows EMMI to identify the patient. The patient is provided with a comprehensive review of the procedure, including a discussion of the anatomy involved with the procedure, a walk-through of the procedure itself, as well as the potential risks associated with the procedure. The patient has the ability to review sections of the presentation multiple times, stop the presentation and begin again the next day, and even type in questions that the physician can address at the next consult.

The entire experience, including what the patient has viewed and has chosen not to view, is recorded by EMMI and is currently admissible in court, supporting the physician's position that consent was given with the patient's complete knowledge of the procedure and the risks associated with it. The program serves as not only an informed consent tool, but a strong defense tool as well. To view a full demonstration of the EMMI program, please visit www.emmidemo.com.

As we progress through 2005, FPIC will be here to answer the tough questions for our members. We encourage you to take full advantage of the numerous programs available specifically for FPIC insured's. Non-FPIC insureds still have the opportunity to take advantage of risk management CME lectures they provide for us at our annual meeting as well as information on their website. FOGS and FPIC are truly partners in prevention.