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1. Upcoming Risk Management Webinar on Aging Population 
2. ISMIE’s Free Retirement Tail Coverage Lets You Enjoy Retirement
3. ISMIE Offers Upcoming Fellowship Days
4. Help Patients Stay Safe During Labor Day Weekend

Upcoming Risk Management Webinar on Aging Population       

ISMIE Mutual is offering a series of risk management webinars to discuss issues related to treating the aging population. With the U.S. Census Bureau projecting that by 2030, one in five U.S. residents will be over 65 years old, this topic is becoming increasingly relevant for all specialties.

The first in the series, Risk Management Issues and the Aging Population, will be held on Monday, Sept. 27, from noon to 1 p.m. John Schumann, M.D., will review areas of high risk for physicians treating older patients, using case studies to launch discussions on risk management strategies intended to reduce professional liability exposure. At the end of the webinar, you will be able to:

• Recognize the complexity of medically managing the aging patient
   
• Incorporate risk management strategies into your everyday practice to better educate aging patients and their caregivers
   
• Evaluate the importance of identifying "who’s in charge" of the patient’s care
   
• Apply appropriate communication techniques when addressing members of the patient’s health care team, as well as his or her family members

Interested in signing up? You can register online. To access the webinar you will need a computer with an Internet connection to view the presentation and a phone to hear it. 

Participants who are in attendance for at least 80% of the program and pass the test following the activity will receive a 1% premium discount and 1 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™. If you have any questions about the webinar series, contact Risk Management at 800-782-4767, ext. 3300, or riskmanagement@ismie.com.
 

ISMIE’s Free Retirement Tail Coverage Lets You Enjoy Retirement   

ISMIE Mutual provides its retiring policyholders with flexibility through its retirement tail coverage. Are you considering retirement? If you are either 55 years of age and have been insured with ISMIE for the last five consecutive years or have been insured with ISMIE for the last 10 consecutive years (regardless of your age), your retirement tail coverage is free of charge. 

The retirement tail coverage is a reporting endorsement that requires your full retirement. You may continue to participate in some professional activities without jeopardizing your tail coverage, such as:

• Providing health care services to patients without remuneration
   
• Providing health care services to patients outside the United States, its territories and possessions
   
• Serving in an administrative role or academic position, which does not include providing health care services to patients

Please note that the retirement tail coverage does not provide coverage for the above activities and tail coverage eligibility is determined by Underwriting Division staff. For more information on ISMIE’s tail coverage, contact the Underwriting Division at underwriting@ismie.com or 800-782-4767. 
 

ISMIE Offers Upcoming Fellowship Days    

Registration for ISMIE’s upcoming Fellowship Day seminars is still open! Have you registered yet? Attending two live seminars and completing four online programs are required to become a Managing Risk Fellow. ISMIE is offering the two live seminars at the same location, helping you fulfill your Fellowship requirements in a timely manner.

Upcoming seminars include: 

Tuesday, Sept. 28
Springfield
Crowne Plaza
Preventing Medical Misadventures (8:30 – 11:30 a.m.)
and
Improving Communications to Reduce Your Malpractice Risk (1 – 4 p.m.)

Thursday, Sept. 30
Oak Brook
Hyatt Lodge at McDonald’s Campus*
Preventing Medical Misadventures (8:30 – 11:30 a.m.)
and
Improving Communications to Reduce Your Malpractice Risk (1 – 4 p.m.) 

*Business attire required.

Policyholders who successfully complete one or both of the Fellowship seminars are eligible to receive a 1% premium discount per seminar. To be eligible for the Managing Risk premium discount, a participant must be both in attendance for a minimum of 80% of the program and present for and pass the test issued only at the end of the activity.

To register to attend any of these seminars, please go to www.ismie.com and click on "Register for a 2010 Fellowship Day" or call 312-853-1644. To check whether you have already completed these seminars and any of the other prerequisites for the Managing Risk Fellowship program, go to www.ismie.com and click on MyISMIE. For more detals about the Fellowship Program benefits, visit our web site or contact Risk Management at 800-782-4767, ext. 3300, or by e-mail at riskmanagement@ismie.com.
 

Help Patients Stay Safe During Labor Day Weekend   

With many people planning cookouts and picnics for the upcoming Labor Day weekend, now is the time to remind your patients of food safety tips. The United States Department of Agriculture offers four basic food safety steps in a helpful handout:

• Clean: Wash your hands with soap and warm water for 20 seconds before and after handling food. Make sure surfaces that come into contact with raw and cooked foods are clean before you start and are washed frequently.
   
• Separate: Raw meats and poultry should be prepared separately from produce and cooked foods. Use separate cutting boards when chopping raw meats and produce, as juices from raw meats may contain harmful bacteria that can cross-contaminate ready-to-eat foods.
   
• Cook: Your food thermometer is the most important tool that will tell you if your food is thoroughly cooked, as color is not a reliable indicator of doneness. The safe minimum internal temperature to kill any harmful bacteria in steaks, roasts, chops and fish is 145°F, while ground beef should reach 160°F. Take extra care with frozen hamburgers as these take longer to reach a safe internal temperature throughout the patties. It is important to measure the temperature in several areas of your burgers. All poultry and fully cooked meats like hot dogs should be grilled to 165°F or until steaming hot.
   
• Chill: Perishable food should never sit out for more than two hours. If the temperature is above 90°F, perishable foods should not sit out more than one hour. Refrigerate or freeze leftovers promptly, and discard any food that has been out too long.

With these helpful tips, your patients can safely enjoy the holiday weekend!