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Posted on: November 18, 2015 by Huntersure
The allied healthcare field is a vast industry. Spanning a variety of positions and specialties, this sector is one of the fastest-growing in the nation. As so many professionals make up this field, there are inherent risks associated with each. As such, a Professional Liability Program for Allied Healthcare is essential to protecting both employees and businesses alike.
The following are the top three occupations among allied healthcare professionals and the specific risk exposures each faces.
Occupational Therapist- These professionals assist injured and disabled individuals with tasks that pose a challenge to them based on their condition. They typically work in hospitals, nursing homes, schools, and even privately. As they interact with various patients on daily basis, they are subjected to malpractice claims as a result of client injury.
Sonographer- According to U.S. News, sonographers are responsible for operating specialized equipment that is used to diagnose conditions, track pregnancies and offer other medical insights. Issues such as litigation from faulty diagnosis can stem from these professional’s roles. As such, malpractice claims and legal action has increased among sonographers.
Medical Assistant- These medical professionals assist in clinical and administrative responsibilities for doctors and nurses. One example of a liability concern for these professionals was explained by a nurse practitioner who said “I’m worried about the way the medical assistant in my office gives out telephone advice. I heard him tell a patient not to worry about the symptom the patient was calling about. It seems to me that this would be a form of diagnosing, which is the practice of medicine. Boards of nursing come down hard on registered nurses who exceed their scope of practice, but it seems that medical assistants do it all the time.”
Therefore, exceeding the scope of practice is a common lawsuit against medical assistants. If the assistant were to make a recommendation to a patient without the proper knowledge, and harm or injury was suffered as a result of that diagnosis, the assistant, as well as their supervising employer, would be held liable.
At Huntersure, we seek to protect the allied healthcare professionals who make up so much of the industry. We understand the inevitable risks they face and have unique coverage options written specifically for their needs. For more information, contact us today at (855) 585-6255.
Posted in: Allied Healthcare blog Professional Liability