Mention “health insurance” and most doctors groan and shake their heads. For patients and medical practice employees, filing health insurance claims can be a long and confusing process. While you’ve certainly paid a lot of attention to what type of health insurance you will accept from your patients, have you considered how your practice is covered? We’re not talking about what personal insurance policies you offer for your employees; we’re talking about what insurance you have to protect your medical practice itself.

Is your practice implementing these “must-haves?” If not, talk to your practice advisor, attorney, or insurance representative ASAP:

WORKERS COMPENSATION INSURANCE
Did you know that nurses experience more than 35,000 back and body injuries each year? Granted, most of these occur in hospitals from moving and transporting patients, but if you work with patients who have difficulty walking, are obese, or have other extensive injuries, realize that it is very possible that a physician assistant or nurse could be injured. Workers Compensation also protects you from any slips, trips and falls.

SPOILAGE COVERAGE
If you have any vaccines or temperature-controlled medicines, these can be spoiled or ruined with one power outage. These medicines represent a significant investment for your practice, so be sure to protect them.

MEDICAL MALPRACTICE
This is obvious. You may wish to speak with a practice advisor or attorney to determine if you need individual policies for every doctor or an additional policy for your entire facility. This will vary depending upon the size of your practice.

EMPLOYMENT PRACTICES LIABILITY
Did someone claim that he or she was sexually harassed? Or a victim of racial or gender discrimination? Perhaps you had to terminate an employee for insubordination and that employee is claiming a breach of contract? Employment Practices Liability can help with the cost of lawsuits.

PROPERTY INSURANCE
If you live on the East Coast, you’re no stranger to hurricanes. Midwesterners are familiar with tornadoes, and floods, fires and accidents can strike anyone, anywhere. How much have you invested in your equipment? Imagine your latest, state-of-the-art imaging equipment gone—torn apart by an unexpected disaster. You must be prepared. Property Insurance covers your physical building and the property that is vital to the operation of your business. One caution: be sure you know whether or not you are located in a flood zone. Some policies have special caveats for those in flood or hurricane-prone areas.

PRACTICE OVERHEAD INSURANCE
If you became sick or injured, what would happen to your practice? Your family and yourself may be protected by disability insurance, but who will take care of your patients? This insurance helps if you can’t practice due to an injury or disability.

No one wants to think of the worst-case scenario, particularly if you are just starting on your journey to building your medical practice. But these precautions are not an option—they are essential to your success. If you don’t know where to start, a practice advisor can help. Practice advisors have access to a network of professionals who are experts in their fields and can provide easy and timely access to the services you need for success.