Board Member Profile:
Peter A. Brusca, M.D.
Peter A. Brusca, M.D., is an otolaryngologist and surgeon with 30 years experience in the medical profession. Dr. Brusca is vice chairman of ISMIE Mutual's Board of Directors. He has logged countless hours on many committees, and is immediate past chair of the long-range planning committee.
Dr. Brusca, what are the most memorable moments from the early years of your practice?
I was energized and excited to build the practice starting from scratch. I knew I was well trained to practice medicine, thanks to my mentors. Unfortunately, today's graduates have a more difficult time – they usually carry the burden of debt, and must join a group and work their way up.
What are your biggest day-to-day challenges?
Staying current with advancements in my field to benefit patients is challenging. Also, managing the problems that can occur in three clinic offices, with a staff of 30 employees and five physicians.
Both young and established physicians are leaving Illinois due to the state's medical liability crisis. What can be done to curb “physician flight”?
In order to keep physicians practicing in Illinois, we need to fix the broken legal system and stabilize the medical liability insurance market. This will encourage other insurers to enter the Illinois marketplace and allow ISMIE Mutual to reconsider its moratorium on new business. In what ways did the 2004 election bring attention to medical liability issues?
Judge Karmeier’s election demonstrates that the people of Illinois support our efforts to keep physicians here and increase access to care. We need to keep the pressure on for a solution that is more than cosmetic in nature. On the federal level, election results offer hope that President Bush and Congress will fulfill their pre-election promise to enact meaningful medical liability reform.
What are some of the tough issues tackled by the ISMIE Mutual board?
The board is not afraid to take on tough decisions that may be unpopular, but necessary. In 2004 we had to maintain the moratorium on new business, imperative to protect our current policyholders and to ensure that we remain financially strong for the long term. We had to make difficult decisions regarding premium rates, in order to maintain surplus and reserves to cover the increase in severity and frequency of claims.
We also worked to advance the development and implementation of the Risk Rewards program, so that our policyholders can better manage risk and earn discounts on their
insurance premiums in the process.
What are the major challenges facing the ISMIE Mutual board in 2005?
To continue our vigorous efforts to assure medical liability reform, keep our policyholders informed of these efforts, and always “set the record straight” when our opponents make false accusations about ISMIE Mutual, ISMS or other organizations working on behalf of physicians.
Also, we must continue to provide physicians with the best possible tools to manage their practice risk. And with its broad demographic make-up, the board must position ISMIE Mutual to be able to react quickly and effectively to the changing medical liability insurance marketplace.
What have been your most professionally gratifying moments?
Beginning as a solo practitioner, building the practice, and earning a reputation for outstanding patient service. Also, my participation in organized medicine, and serving on the ISMIE Mutual board.
Because we are a physician-owned company, ISMIE Mutual cares deeply about its policyholders. We look for and need their support to serve our common interests.