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The Quarterly ReCall Newsletter April/Spring 2008
April/Spring 2008 Our Diverse Products and Services Portfolio Gives You Many Choices by: Thomas A. Witkowski, President As your association member specialist, we understand the importance of offering a wide array of products and services for your office. We continue to pride ourselves in our partnerships with financially sound insurance companies and experts in complex lines of insurance. Our programs include: - Group and individual health insurance including Health Savings Accounts, Health Reimbursement Arrangements and Flexible Spending Accounts offered through all the major insurance companies including WPS, Anthem, Humana, United HealthCare and Assurant - Ancillary benefits including group life, short & long term disability, office overhead expense disability and dental insurance - Individual life and disability advanced product sales through MetLife utilizing Mr. Mike Dow, CPA, as our advisor. - Individual long term care insurance through John Hancock; Melissa Coppage advisor - Professional liability, business owner’s and Workers Compensation insurance through trusted names like CNA, Philadelphia, West Bend Mutual, Pennsylvania Manufacturers and GenStar - Auto, homeowners, motorcycle, RV, boat and snowmobile/ATV coverage through West Bend Mutual - Risk management services provided by CNA HealthPro In the future, watch for a human resources program, identity theft products, health care advocacy, wellness initiatives and equipment financing. We’re your agency and we’re here for you. back to top LEGAL Q&A by: BY: ATTORNEY W. PATRICK SULLIVAN Q: If I sue a patient in small claims court to collect on my bill, and the patient counterclaims for negligent treatment, is it really necessary for me to notify CNA? What is the worst that could happen if I decide to represent myself and not get the insurance company involved? A: Not a good idea! You should always notify CNA when a small claims defendant (your patient) counterclaims for malpractice. First, recognize that the jurisdictional limit in small claims court is $5,000. By alleging negligence in your treatment, the patient (counterclaiming plaintiff) is not only seeking to avoid your bill, he/she is also seeking to recover money damages from you for subsequent dental treatment, pain and suffering, lost wages, etc. If successful, the patient can collect up to $5,000 for these damages from you. Second, the procedural rules in the various small claims courts in the counties around the state vary. Although Chapter 799 of the Wisconsin Statutes controls, there are local rules and nuances that you need to be aware of in terms of what is required at the initial appearance, and at the ultimate small claims hearing of the case. By contacting CNA you will have an attorney representing you in these proceedings. Third, and this goes along with having an attorney, there are certain defenses available to you in the small claims setting that you may not be aware of and, therefore, not utilize if you represent yourself. As just one example, we often find that plaintiffs are unaware (and sometimes the court commissioners who hear small claims actions are unaware), that in order to prevail on the counterclaim, the patient must have expert testimony to support his/her claim of negligence against you. Once an attorney is assigned to the case certain steps can be taken to ensure that the counterclaim against you is dismissed if the plaintiff fails to produce sufficient expert testimony to support that claim. Again, as soon as you learn of a counterclaim against you in small claims court you should notify WDAIP. back to top MUSoD Corner by: By: Elise Poremski This past January, the American Student Dental Association (ASDA) Chapter at Marquette sent 9 students to the Central Regional Meeting in Chicago, IL. The central region is comprised of 23 dental schools divided into 4 districts. Exposing new members to national meetings is a prime goal for our chapter this year. Marquette sent a record number of students and was praised extensively by ASDA’s Board of Trustees. ASDA’s regional meetings aim to improve the quality of individual chapters by developing and improving the leadership skills of delegates and chapter leaders. The meeting served to orient new delegates to the organization’s purpose, governance, and activities. Networking with other dental students and exchanging ideas about successful activities and fundraising events provided beneficial insight on how to improve our chapter. We had the opportunity to meet new people and learn from others in a professional and enjoyable environment. Most importantly, the meeting educated students of the meaning and value of organized dentistry and the importance of continuing membership in ASDA and the ADA. The Central Regional meeting was a well planned event that incorporated relevant speakers, activities, breakout sessions, vendor displays, and even a “field trip” to the ADA headquarters in downtown Chicago. Students left with an understanding of the pertinent issues that face our profession today, such as licensure and access to care. Interactions with professionals during discussion sessions and at the visit to the ADA increased knowledge about advances in dentistry, dental practice, and dental products. Overall, the Marquette delegates had a positive educational experience that will not only strengthen our ASDA chapter but also enhance our future careers. back to top Guatemala Medical Relief Project by: By: Christine K. Bachmann WDAIP employee Mariana Reyes along with Julie Wilk (Donated Dental Services), Dr. Peter Wilk, Dr Paul Gruber, Dr. Tony Gruber (Nebraska), Dr. Mike Walsh and Dr Bruce Neumann took part in the Guatemala Medical Relief Project through the International Rotary Club. Along with medical personnel, volunteers provided OB/GYN, Vision, Podiatry, Pediatric and Dental services to the people of Oliveros and the surrounding communities. During the 9-day trip they saw an estimated 823 patients. Mariana proved to be a valuable resource as she interpreted for the dental and medical personnel and also helped in assisting the dentists. This group travels to Oliveros once a year to provide services. Enrique Gandara a banker out of Madison, WI generously provides the group with housing at his ranch. back to top Professional Protector Plan:Flood Coverage by: Niclole Cutraro The spring thaw is just around the corner and with record snow fall in some areas of Wisconsin, it is a great time to consider Flood Insurance for your practice. Floods are one of the most common hazards in the United States. A flood can be local, impacting a neighborhood or community or very large affecting an entire river basin. More and more buildings, roads and parking lots are being built where forests and meadows used to be, which decreases the land’s natural ability to absorb water. Coupled with the changing weather patterns, this construction has made recent floods more severe and increases everyone’s chance of being flooded. The Professional Protector Plan offers Flood Insurance which can be purchases along side your current policy. Please contact the P&C Team at 800-242-9077 for additional information. back to top Premium Savings & CE Credits – What a Combination!! WDA Insurance Programs, Inc. along with CNA HealthPro provides the Risk Management program for Dentists which qualifies you for a 7 ½% credit on your Professional Protector Plan® malpractice premium for three years. This program also earns you non-clinical continuing education credits. We offer both a live ½ day seminar and a home study kit containing a DVD, work book and a test. Please contact your WDAIP Account Representative at 414-277-7727 or toll free at 800-242-9077 for more information. back to top SAVE THE DATE!! Dental Professional Liability Risk Management Seminar Friday, October 3, 2008 Seminar: 8:00 A. M. - 2:00 P. M. Madison Marriott West 1313 John Q. Hammons Drive Middleton WI back to top Got Your Dot? Right now there are nearly 100,000 men, women, and children aross the country wiating for a healthy organ to replace a failing kidney, heart, lung, liver, or pancreas. Every day, 18 die waiting. Join WPS Health Insurance in their ORGANize to Save Lies campaign - a statewide effort to sign up one million new organ/tissue donors by 2010. Participation in the campaign is easy. Let your employees know about this issue and make organ donation stickers for their driver's licenses available. WPS has created easy-to-use campaign materials that you can download from their Web site - WPS Home Page back to top Tell Us What You Think by: Mara T. Roberts, Vice President To gain a better understanding of what the Wisconsin dental community expects in terms of the products and services we are currently providing or should be providing in the future, we have hired the Chamness Group out of Milwaukee to conduct a market research survey beginning in late April. This survey will include both indepth telephone conversations and an email survey which participants can complete on-line at their convenience. We appreciate that your time is valuable and limited therefore we have made a concerted effort to minimize the length of these surveys while still allowing us to gather important insights from the participants. If you are not contacted but would like to participate, a link to the on-line survey will appear in the Documents section of our website in late April. You may also complete the survey at our exhibit booth at the WDA Annual Session May 1st & 2nd. Thank you in advance for helping us better serve you. back to top Past Issues January/Winter 2008 October/Fall 2007 July/Summer 07 April/Spring 2007 Oct/Fall 2006 July/Summer 2006 April/Spring 2006 Oct/Fall 2005 April05QR July 05 QR 4th Quarter 2004 3rd Quarter 2004 2nd Quarter 2004 3rd Quarter 2003 1st Quarter 2004 4th Quarter 2003 1st Quarter 2003 2nd Quarter 2003 4th Quarter 3rd Quarter 2002 1st Quarter 2002 2nd Quarter 2002 Spring 2001 Jan/Winter 2006 |
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