Orthopedic Surgery

Save On Premiums for Orthopedic Surgery, a High-Risk Specialty

Medical professional liability and malpractice insurance providers always charge the premium that is associated with the highest specialty risk the physician performs. Orthopedic surgeons should be aware that if they are performing traditional orthopedic surgery and spine surgery, they will be charged the spine surgery rate from their medical malpractice insurance company. If your surgical practice includes both traditional orthopedic surgery and spine surgery, while your percentage of spine surgery is very low; some carriers will offer you a lower rate than full spine rate.

If you are an orthopedic surgeon and have had medical malpractice claims, or are currently involved in a claim, do not be discouraged. Medical malpractice insurance companies are aware that this specialty is higher risk, and claims are common. eQuoteMD has experts that work with orthopedic surgery medical malpractice insurance providers every day and consistently deliver lower rates.

Coverage Types Offered for Orthopedic Surgery Procedures

The procedures listed below, if performed in the surgeon’s practice, will classify surgeons in the orthopedic surgery class under all medical malpractice insurance companies.

• Knee Replacement
• Lumbar Spinal Fusion
• Intervertebral Disc Surgery
• Hip Replacement
• Distal Clavicle Excision
• Shoulder Arthroscopy & Decompression
• Knee Arthroscopy
• Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) Reconstruction
• Femoral Neck or Trochanteric Fracture Repair
• Skin, Muscle, Bone or Fracture Debridement
• Rotator Cuff Tendon Repair
• Ankle, Radius or Ulna Fracture Repair
• Laminectomy
• Meniscectomy
• Scoliosis Surgery

The Two Primary Areas of Orthopedic Surgery

Orthopedic Surgery is classified by medical malpractice insurance carriers as either Surgery No Spine or Surgery with Spine. Spine surgery comes with a much higher risk of claims for medical malpractice insurance and therefore carries a higher premium. Medical errors or bad outcomes are often unavoidable. Medical damage to the spine often causes significant problems for the patient. Paralysis and death can be potential outcomes for patients undergoing spine surgery.

These outcomes are often associated with very high medical malpractice insurance settlements. This higher risk requires medical malpractice insurance providers to charge more premium to spine surgeons.

Orthopedics Without Surgery

Physicians who no longer wish to perform surgery will continue to practice in the field of orthopedics without performing surgery. Medical malpractice insurance providers charge significantly less premium for orthopedic surgeons who do not perform any surgery.

Nonsurgical orthopedic doctors sometimes provide a treatment called Orthopedic Manipulative Therapy (OMT). This procedure is intended to increase the range of motion in a patient’s joints. It can also reduce pain by stabilizing the muscles and tissues in an affected area. This procedure may provide challenges when shopping for medical malpractice insurance as some medical professional liability insurance companies will not issue coverage for this treatment.

About Orthopedic Medical Associations

Orthopedists have access to several large associations. Two of best known are the American Association of Orthopedic Medicine and the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons. These two organizations focus on the two main categories of orthopedists, surgical and non-surgical.

The American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons was founded in 1933. This was the preemptive result of the split that took place in 1934 between orthopedic surgery and general surgery within the American Orthopedic Association, which was founded in 1887. Since that time, the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons has amassed a membership of 36,000 strong. In 1982, the American Association of Orthopedic Medicine was established, catering to non-surgical orthopedic treatments.

Call eQuoteMD Today for Top Rated Medical Malpractice Insurance for Orthopedic Surgeons in the US

eQuoteMD’s professionals are here to connect you to the best Orthopedic Surgery malpractice insurance coverage. Get a free quote online at your convenience today! If you have any questions, you can contact our experts at our main office in St. Louis, Missouri, at (855) 823-5283.