Medical Malpractice Insurance for Physician Assistants
The number of employed PA’s in the United States is projected to increase by 39 percent by the year 2018, making this a great time to be a Physician Assistant. This increase is being driven by three major factors:
- Growing population;
- Shrinking number of primary care physicians
- Efficiency improvements mandated by President Obama’s Patient Protection & Affordable Care Act.
Since employment opportunities for PA’s are greater than ever, and their healthcare role is expanding, so too, is their liability exposure. Physician assistants are being named in an increasing number of medical malpractice lawsuits.
Being dependent practitioners, often with partial protection under their employer’s malpractice insurance, many PA’s are under the impression that they’re immune to individual liability. However, the employer’s medical malpractice insurance policy rider may only offer them limited protection. PA’s can be held accountable for their own negligence, and in many instances, will be liable for part, or all, of a lawsuit settlement.
The most common medical malpractice claims against PA’s are for lack of adequate physician supervision, inadequate examination, failure to diagnose and delayed referral to the supervising physician. Diagnostic errors are the most prevalent basis of medical liability claims filed against PA’s, across all specialties.
As the best protection for the physician assistant’s personal finances and career, MyMedicalMalpracticeInsurance.com recommends that PA’s carry their own medical malpractice insurance policy. One important benefit of doing so is that it allows the PA to hire his/her own defense attorney in the event of a claim. If both the physician and the physician assistant are named in the suit, there can be a conflict of interest created by the representation of both by the same attorney. The attorney can always be expected to put the supervising physician’s interests foremost during both court proceedings and negotiations.
Another important benefit to a separate malpractice policy for the physician assistant is the increased limits of liability. Limits are often shared across all insured parties in a claim, and again the supervising physician will be in a preferential position, thereby lessening the amount of coverage left to protect you. Acquiring your own medical professional liability insurance policy, with separate limits of liability, helps ensure the adequacy of your coverage when you may most need it.
Last, but certainly not least, when a PA is working for multiple physicians or covering shifts at other healthcare facilities, all activities may not be covered. Your own customized malpractice insurance policy can fill any gaps in coverage and give you the peace of mind you need.
Purchasing your own individual malpractice insurance policy is the only way to be certain that you have adequate coverage. Our highly trained and experienced staff of medical professional liability insurance brokers will help you find the best coverage available, for the best rates, by making the top insurance companies compete for your business.
Request a free Physician Assistant Medical Malpractice Insurance Quote today.
Most FAQs Regarding Doctor Liability Insurance, Part 1