http://www.medicalmutual.com/publications/advocate/2010/index.php a quarterly newsletter featuring commentary, financial updates, news from all Company departments and guest articles. en-us Copyright 1997-2010 Medical Mutual Insurance Company of Maine webmaster@medicalmutual.com (Mark McGhie) Mon, 12 Apr 2010 11:43:06 EDT http://www.medicalmutual.com/publications/advocate/2010/02_1.php http://www.medicalmutual.com/publications/advocate/2010/02_1.php The fundamental reason for purchasing medical professional liability insurance is to protect your assets and reputation in the event of a claim. That is, IF there is a claim against you. Most certainly the coverage you get and the company that insures you are critical in that decision. After all, you’re paying for the insurance and you want the best coverage from the company with the best track record of defending the doctors, hospitals and other providers it insures. That’s what you get with Medical Mutual. But you also get something else that’s extremely valuable — yet doesn’t take an “IF” scenario to actually realize that value. http://www.medicalmutual.com/publications/advocate/2010/02_2.php http://www.medicalmutual.com/publications/advocate/2010/02_2.php For the third time in the past four years, Medical Mutual’s Board of Directors has declared a dividend aggregating approximately $1,811,000 to eligible policyholders in Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont. This dividend is made possible because the Company continues to see improvement in prior years’ (2006 and earlier) loss experience and favorable investment returns. http://www.medicalmutual.com/publications/advocate/2010/02_3.php http://www.medicalmutual.com/publications/advocate/2010/02_3.php As a Medical Mutual policyholder, you can vote online in the upcoming election for the Company Board of Directors. All votes must be cast by Wednesday April 14, 2010. Or you can fill out and mail your proxy, which was sent to you in early March. The Annual Meeting of Members will be held on Wednesday May 5, 2010. http://www.medicalmutual.com/publications/advocate/2010/02_4.php http://www.medicalmutual.com/publications/advocate/2010/02_4.php Since claims frequency began taking a turn for the better in 2004, Medical Mutual’s financial operating results have consistently mirrored the improved claims environment and the Company’s decade-ending 2009 report year was no exception. With a fifth consecutive year of new claims activity well below the high watermark in 2003, Medical Mutual once again posted solid operating results with pre-tax income of $8,622,000. http://www.medicalmutual.com/publications/advocate/2010/02_5.php http://www.medicalmutual.com/publications/advocate/2010/02_5.php The trend toward physician employment has significantly changed the landscape of physician practices and produced two significant subtrends that hospitals and large groups have had to come to grips with. First, institutions and practices are increasingly relying on part-time physicians to optimize service offerings. At the same time, because more and more physicians are no longer invested in the business of their practice, turnover of employed physicians is a reality these organizations are facing with increasing frequency. http://www.medicalmutual.com/publications/advocate/2010/02_6.php http://www.medicalmutual.com/publications/advocate/2010/02_6.php Save the date for this free afternoon seminar, which takes a closer look at test tracking and appointment management systems, as well as Liability and the EMR.