
APNA Online Learning
Learning on the go with APNA online learning
When things go wrong, combined liability insurance can provide much needed financial assistance for legal and compensation costs in the event action is taken against you.
As with all insurance covers, there is a range of conditions and obligations under your insurance contract that you need to understand. A common area that is often misunderstood is when to contact your insurer regarding an incident involving a patient a nurse is treating. This article tells you why reporting is important and the implications you might face if you don’t report.
The combined liability policy being offered to APNA members by Insurance House includes Professional Indemnity Insurance and is issued on a ‘claims made and notified’ basis, which means the policy responds to claims first made against the insured during the policy period, and notified to the insurer during that same policy period. In short, for a claim to be covered your policy must have been in place at the time the allegation was made against you, and when the claim is lodged.
However, many health professionals believe that until a formal notification or demand is received they do not need to report the incident to their insurer. Under the terms of the policy, section 7 – Claims Conditions, there is a specific requirement for notification as follows: 7.1. This policy applies only to claims first made against you during the period of insurance and notified to us during the period of insurance. 7.2. A claim is considered to be first made against you when you:
(a) Receive a demand for compensation or damages or an assertion of a financial right made by a third party in writing to you; or
(b) Receive any writ, statement of claim, summons, application or other originating legal or arbitral process, cross-claim, counterclaim or third or similar party notice served upon you and claiming compensation, damages
or other civil rights or remedies against you.
We have underlined the word ‘assertion’ as this is where many insured professionals can become confused. What this means is that you are obligated to inform your insurer as soon as possible after you first become aware of a situation. This could potentially result in a claim being made, even if your patient or the third party has not yet formally made an official complaint or engaged a lawyer. So, in other words, you must advise your insurance provider.
Here are the types of incidents that may require a notification:
While each of the above appears onerous it is actually common sense and most, if not all, nurses would be aware of when things don’t go quite as planned.
The key to it all is– if in doubt, report. A failure to notify your insurer as soon as reasonably possible could, in the worst-case scenario, lead to your claim being rejected. So even if you’re unsure whether it’s worth letting them know or not, it’s in your best interest to do so.
Another common misconception and problem are where we believe we can solve those small issues ourselves.
We assume:
So, once again, reporting such issues prior to taking action yourself will allow us to guide and provide the appropriate response to hopefully settle the matter quickly and efficiently before escalating. Similarly, nurses may receive a letter from the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia and disagree with the allegations being made against them or not consider them serious. They might also feel it is easier to just respond directly without involving the insurer.
Time and time again we have seen the matter escalate to an investigation or even further to a hearing before an insured advises us of the matter. Not only can this prejudice your registration or result in conditions being imposed, which takes time away from your work, it can also jeopardise the chance of receiving assistance under your policy from the insurer.
On the other hand, when informed the insurer can take the step of appointing solicitors who have expertise with the disciplinary process and will assist you with your communications to the regulatory body. This will hopefully resolve the notification early, avoid an investigation or hearing, and minimise any repercussions on your professional registration.
Many nurses will never have a claim or complaint made against them. However, if it does happen contact Insurance House and let us do the worrying for you. We can guide, assist and ultimately alleviate what can soon become a very stressful experience if not managed correctly. The reason you have insurance is to protect you in the event of a claim – keep this in mind the next time something happens. As a nurse, your goal is to ensure the health and wellbeing of patients; your insurance, when used correctly, provides you with the financial treatment program to restore your reputational health if things go wrong.
Find out more about APNA’s member policy with Insurance House – including frequently asked questions, compare your cover checklist, and information about the free legal hotline – at www.apna.asn.au/insurance.