1. ISMIE Gets High Marks From Its Policyholders!
2. ISMIE Mutual Hotline…The Easy Way to Deal with
3. Complete Your Physician Profile-TODAY!
4. They’re At It Again…Trial Lawyers Throwing Stones

ISMIE Gets High Marks From Its Policyholders! 

ISMIE’s Claims Monitoring Survey results show that although no one wants a claim filed against them, if faced with a claim they want to be insured with ISMIE Mutual. Recent responses to claims monitoring surveys indicate ISMIE as the leading medical liability insurance company in Illinois.

• An unprecedented 88% of ISMIE insureds stated they would prefer the same ISMIE claims analyst if faced with another claim.

• 91% of physicians stated they would request the same defense counsel if faced with another claim.

• A testimonial to the satisfaction rate includes 100% of physicians surveyed, whose claim resulted in a plaintiff's verdict, indicated they would request the same ISMIE analyst if faced with another claim.

These scores speak to the trust that is developed within the defense team and the bonds that our insureds feel when they need us the most.

Even if you have never been sued it may be helpful to review some of ISMIE’s information on how to handle being faced with a claim. Among the materials we offer are How to Survive a Medical Liability Claim DVD and The Physician Defendant Handbook. Contact the Claims Division to obtain materials, give us your opinion and ideas for improvement or to report a claim or lawsuit, at 800-782-4767 or visit www.ismie.com.

ISMIE Mutual Hotline…The Easy Way to Deal with  Medical License Renewals

Our phones have been very busy since the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) mailed its postcards last week notifying physicians of the renewal process for their Illinois medical license. And we are happy to help!

ISMIE Mutual’s Hotline allows you to renew your medical license and your controlled substance license(s) through us. You will talk to a “live” person on the phone and you can avoid the “convenience charge” to the IDFPR. You can call the ISMIE hotline daily, Monday through Friday from 8:30 am-4:45 pm, toll free at 1-800-632-7478.

If you prefer to renew your medical license on-line, go to the IDFPR web site and enter the PIN provided on the yellow postcard you received in the mail. The deadline for all medical license renewals is July 31, 2008. If you renew on-line, make sure that you renew your controlled substance license(s) by checking the “view subordinate license” link on the IDFPR license renewal page. This link will provide you with your controlled substance number and special PIN to renew. 

Complete Your Physician Profile-TODAY!

Hopefully you are not among the 6,000 Illinois physicians who have not completed their IDFPR profile and, therefore, cannot renew their medical license. If so, you can go immediately to www.idfpr.com and complete your profile. If you are having difficulty, contact ISMIE by e-mail at physicianprofile@ismie.com or via phone at 1-800-632-7478. Additional information is also available by contacting the IDFPR directly and clicking on Frequently Asked Questions, sending an e-mail to FPR.Profile@Illinois.gov, or calling 217-524-4972.   

They’re At It Again…Trial Lawyers Throwing Stones

... They’re At It Again

Imagine this…Trial Lawyers accusing someone of creating ads in an attempt to lobby a position and influence an outcome. The old saying ‘people in glass houses should not throw stones’ rings true in this instance.

To wit…ISMS and ISMIE Mutual launched a radio campaign as part of the Reality Medicine: Keep Doctors in Illinois initiative. The spots feature general health topics of interest to patients, coupled with an educational component on medical litigation reform. Soon after the radio spots aired, Robert Clifford, a leading Chicago-area trial lawyer, went on the attack claiming that ISMS and ISMIE efforts were little more than an attempt to influence the Illinois Supreme Court. Clifford’s angry attack was published in Crain’s Chicago Business on April 14, 2008.

In a responding letter to the editor, the Illinois Civil Justice League (ICJL) set the record straight by informing Crain’s readers of the enormous political contributions made by trial lawyers, aimed at influencing the courts. Click here to read the ICJL response letter.

For information regarding the constitutional challenge and the ads created by ISMS and ISMIE, visit www.realitymedicine.com.

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