2010 press releases
Texas Society of Anesthesiology endorses Texas Medical Liability Trust
September 28, 2010
Contact: Donald J. Chow
Senior Vice President Marketing
512-425-5933 800-580-8658 x5933
don-chow@tmlt.org
The news
Austin, TX . . . At the September 2010 annual meeting of the Texas Society of Anesthesiologists (TSA) in San Antonio, its governing officers voted to grant Texas Medical Liability Trust (TMLT) their exclusive endorsement, effective January 1, 2011 through January 1, 2012. TMLT will be the preferred provider of medical liability coverage and services to practicing physicians who are members of the Society. This exclusive endorsement will be reviewed by the TSA on an annual basis.
Quotes
From the chairman, TMLT Board of Governors, Dr. Robert I. Parks, anesthesiologist, Dallas, Texas: "This is wonderful news! I feel that both the TSA and TMLT will benefit from this exclusive endorsement."
From the president and CEO, TMLT, Bob R. Fields: "TMLT looks forward to working with the TSA in providing strong defense of their members against continuing non-meritorious litigation. TMLT is the only Texas-based carrier who helped achieve the 2003 tort reforms which have led to reductions in liability premiums by over 50%."
From the president, TSA, Gregory M. Kronberg, MD: "It is with pleasure that I acknowledge the Texas Society of Anesthesiologists' endorsement of Texas Medical Liability Trust (TMLT). The Texas Society of Anesthesiologists (TSA) represents approximately 2900 Texas anesthesiologists. I believe that both TSA and TMLT will benefit from this endorsement."
Background — TMLT
Mission: To be on the leading edge of industry change to provide a standard of coverage and service to our policyholders by which all others are compared. TMLT is the state's largest medical liability insurance provider, serving nearly 15,000 Texas Medical Association (TMA) member physicians. TMLT is a health care liability claim trust created and endorsed by TMA and owned by its physician policyholders. The Trust is headquartered in Austin, Texas.
Mission: It shall be the purpose of the Texas Society of Anesthesiologists to advance, promote, and support the practice of the medical specialty of anesthesiology in the state of Texas.
September 9, 2010
TMLT awards four $10,000 scholarships
Austin, TX — TMLT is proud to announce the recipients of the 2010 TMLT Memorial Scholarships.
- Douglas S. Lewis is a third-year student at Baylor College of Medicine;
- Robert G. McAtee is a second-year student at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston;
- Scott McIntyre is a fourth-year student at Baylor College of Medicine; and
- Nathan Wright is a fourth-year student at the University of Texas Medical School at Houston.
Launched in 2005, the program awards $40,000 in scholarships annually to Texas medical students who are interested in finding creative ways to enhance patient safety. Scholarship recipients are chosen based on each student's financial need and written essay.
For the essay portion, applicants for the 2010 scholarship were asked to write risk management considerations for a closed claim study provided by TMLT. Read the case study and the winning essays.
In 2010, TMLT received 57 applications from students at eight Texas medical schools. The TMLT Board of Governors evaluated the applications and chose the recipients. Winning essays are published on the TMLT web site and in TMLT's newsletter, the Reporter.
About TMLT
TMLT is the state's largest medical liability insurance provider, serving nearly 15,000 Texas Medical Association (TMA) member physicians. TMLT is a health care liability claim trust created and endorsed by TMA and owned by its physician policyholders. The Trust is headquartered in Austin, Texas.
August 25, 2010
TMLT announces 24% dividend and 1% rate reduction effective January 2011
Austin, TX — The Governing Board of Texas Medical Liability Trust (TMLT) is pleased to announce a 24% policyholder dividend for renewing TMLT policyholders and a 1% rate reduction for TMLT policyholders effective January 1, 2011.
This is the sixth time TMLT has declared a policyholder dividend. This is the second consecutive year the board has awarded a 24% dividend to current policyholders. This will amount to approximately $36 million dollars in 2011 premium savings for TMLT physicians.
TMLT has reduced rates for Texas physicians for an unprecedented eight consecutive years since the passage of medical liability reform by the Texas legislature and Governor Rick Perry in 2003. For the first five years, rates were reduced across the board for all policyholders: 12% in 2004; 5% in 2005; 5% in 2006; 7.5% in 2007; and 6.5% in 2008. For 2009, all physicians received a rate decrease but the reduction varied by specialty and territory with an average statewide decrease of 4.7%. In 2010 and for 2011, all physicians will benefit from a 1% rate reduction.
Bob R. Fields, TMLT's president and CEO, stated, "Medical liability reform has fostered an environment in Texas where physicians can spend their time taking care of their patients rather than fighting non-meritorious lawsuits. Since the passage of medical liability reform, TMLT insured physicians will have saved $634 million, once this latest round of rate cuts and dividends is implemented. TMLT and its nearly 15,000 physician policyholders are most grateful to Governor Rick Perry and all Texas legislators who voted for the 2003 tort reform. Thousands of new doctors are now practicing in Texas because of this legislation."
Physicians interested in applying for TMLT coverage or who would like more information about how this rate decrease and dividend will benefit them can call the sales department at 800-580-8658. Current policyholders will receive detailed information from TMLT before their policy renews or they may direct questions to their underwriter.
About TMLT
TMLT is the state's largest medical liability insurance provider, serving nearly 15,000 Texas Medical Association (TMA) member physicians. TMLT is a health care liability claim trust created and endorsed by TMA and owned by its physician policyholders. The Trust is headquartered in Austin, Texas.
July 1, 2010
TMLT responds to Girards Firm web site
Austin, TX — Recently, the Girards Law Firm filed a Travis County lawsuit alleging witness tampering by TMLT. The Court dismissed those claims. Here is the order dismissing his claims. James Girards, of the Girards Law Firm, was sanctioned twice in that case for discovery abuse. After the second sanction, Girards anonymously posted the same witness tampering claims on tmItexposed.org. This web site appropriated copyrighted graphics and text from TMLT's web site in violation of TMLT's posted copyright statement. TMLT worked with Domains by Proxy to protect the Trust's copyright and unmask the site holder of tmItexposed.org.
Once Girards was unmasked as the actor behind this web site, the Girards Law Firm filed a Dallas County lawsuit seeking a temporary restraining order that TMLT could not sue the firm over Girards' conduct. The Dallas Court denied that request as well.
TMLT supports all citizens' constitutional rights to free speech and trial by jury. Along with those rights, however, come responsibilities. Girards misused copyrighted materials without authority and tried to hide the Girards Law Firm's involvement in the web site. TMLT protected its copyright. TMLT has not worked to shut down the Girards web site; TMLT simply learned the identity of the party appropriating TMLT's copyrighted materials. Moreover, if the web site raises such important free speech issues, why was Girards unwilling to put his name on it?
Background
Texas Medical Liability Trust (TMLT) is a physician-owned, health care liability claim trust offering medical liability insurance products to Texas physicians. Created in 1979 by Texas Medical Association, TMLT currently protects more than 14,500 doctors in all specialties practicing in all areas of the state. TMLT is also endorsed by Bexar County Medical Society, Dallas County Medical Society, Harris County Medical Society, Lubbock-Crosby-Garza County Medical Society, Tarrant County Medical Society, Texas Academy of Family Physicians, Texas Medical Association, Texas Orthopaedic Association, Travis County Medical Society, and is a Gold Corporate Affiliate of the Texas Medical Group Management Association (TMGMA).
June 4, 2010
TMLT announces survey winners
The 2010 Texas physician survey is now closed and winners of the 5 Apple iPads have been notified.
The winners are:
- Dr. David Cech
- Dr Mordecai Klein
- Dr. Lorraine Stehn
- Dr. Sheldon Gross
- Dr. Carlton K. Clarke, II
Thank you for participating in our online physician survey. We appreciate your comments and suggestions and will use this information to improve our services to Texas physicians.
Congratulations to our iPad winners!
About TMLT
Texas Medical Liability Trust is a physician-owned, health care liability claim trust offering medical liability insurance products to Texas physicians. Created in 1979 by Texas Medical Association, TMLT currently protects more than 14,500 doctors in all specialties practicing in all areas of the state.
May 20, 2010
Contact: William Malamon, communications and advertising supervisor
512-425-5998, william-malamon@tmlt.org
Collin-Fannin County Medical Society endorses Texas Medical Liability Trust
AUSTIN, TX — The Collin-Fannin County Medical Society's Executive Board approved the endorsement of Texas Medical Liability Trust (TMLT) on March 11, 2010.
Started 120 years ago, the Collin-Fannin CMS serves 563 physician members. TMLT currently provides medical liability coverage for 62% of those members.
Don Chow, senior vice president of sales and marketing at TMLT said, "We are pleased and gratified to have the recognition and support of Collin-Fannin CMS, and we look forward to continuing our close working relationship."
"This endorsement will mutually benefit TMLT and the physicians of Collin and Fannin counties," said George W. Childress, MD, president of Collin-Fannin CMS. "We look forward to a partnership with TMLT."
Background
Texas Medical Liability Trust (TMLT) is a physician-owned, health care liability claim trust offering medical liability insurance products to Texas physicians. Created in 1979 by Texas Medical Association, TMLT currently protects more than 14,500 doctors in all specialties practicing in all areas of the state. TMLT is also endorsed by Bexar County Medical Society, Dallas County Medical Society, Harris County Medical Society, Lubbock-Crosby-Garza County Medical Society, Tarrant County Medical Society, Texas Academy of Family Physicians, Texas Medical Association, Texas Orthopaedic Association, Travis County Medical Society, and is a Gold Corporate Affiliate of the Texas Medical Group Management Association (TMGMA).
February 1, 2010
Contact: William Malamon, communications and advertising representative
(512) 425-5898 or william-malamon@tmlt.org
TMLT to award four $10,000 medical student scholarships
AUSTIN, TX — Four students at Texas medical schools will receive a $10,000 scholarship thanks to the 2010 TMLT Memorial Scholarship program. Launched in 2005, the program awards $40,000 in scholarships annually to Texas medical students who are interested in finding creative and effective ways to enhance patient safety.
Scholarship recipients will be chosen in a competitive process that weighs students' financial need along with their ability to evaluate the patient safety concerns in a closed claim study and communicate their recommendations in an essay. Entries will be judged by the TMLT Board of Governors, which is composed of nine Texas physicians.
Deadline to apply for the scholarship is Tuesday, June 1, 2010. Winners will be announced in September 2010.
To be eligible for the scholarship, applicants must:
- be entering their second, third, or fourth year of study at a Texas medical school in the fall of 2010;
- be in good academic standing;
- be able to demonstrate financial need;
- be able to communicate a commitment to patient safety and medical risk management through an essay; and
- be a current student member of (or have a student application pending with) the Texas Medical Association.
To apply, students should submit the following:
- a completed application (incomplete applications will not be considered);
- an official medical school transcript; and
- a short essay (no more than 500 words) describing the risk management considerations for a closed claim study provided with the application.
Background
Texas Medical Liability Trust is a physician-owned, health care liability claim trust offering medical liability insurance products to Texas physicians. Created in 1979 by Texas Medical Association, TMLT currently protects more than 14,500 doctors in all specialties practicing in all areas of the state.
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