ProAssurance is committed to our California insureds. With regional expertise we help them stay updated on the medical liability environment and provide the support and tools necessary to allow physicians and healthcare providers to continue to do what they do best.
One tool we offer is the Annual Baseline Self-Assessment, or ABSA. This quick survey, developed by ProAssurance Risk Management, helps practices gain perspective on various aspects of their operations and identify areas of risk in day-to-day processes and procedures. The survey asks tailored questions that cover different areas of focus and that may be adjusted to fit different professional roles at any level. With participant responses anonymized, data collected from ABSA responses is compiled and presented in a report designed to provide detailed insight into the operational dynamics of each unique practice. This method allows Risk Management to provide helpful educational resources and recommend effective strategies that support healthcare teams in better managing risk and reducing the incidence of medical liability claims.
The ABSA also helps our Risk Management team build stronger relationships with our insureds in California. In the last year, 134 California practices have participated in the survey and can now see how their risk profile measures up with other facilities across common benchmarks.
How ABSA Works
The survey may be taken by any member of a healthcare team, including physicians and frontline office personnel, from facilities like hospitals, healthcare systems, and clinics. A Risk Management consultant compiles the feedback and prepares a detailed report that provides a visual representation and quantitative score for the participant’s practice. This information can effectively highlight areas for improvement, pinpointing gaps in knowledge and breaking down the possible contributing factors to specific issues.
Risk consultants become more familiar with the challenges physicians and providers face daily in their profession. They are better equipped to offer customized risk mitigation tools and ongoing developmental resources that suit a practice’s specific needs and objectives while keeping patient-centered care the top priority. The recommended solutions may be applied directly to office processes, policies, and protocols and across medical facilities, teams, and departments. A comprehensive ABSA report, combined with knowledgeable insight from a Risk Management professional, and appropriately implemented strategies, helps strengthen leadership and team performance while enhancing patient safety and emergency preparedness. Healthcare teams gain more awareness for what puts their practice at risk and are able to proactively manage both individual and team functions, which helps improve defensibility in the event of a claim.
Benchmarks
The ABSA spotlights areas of potential risk within an individual medical practice. The following are specific focus areas for which data has been gathered using the ABSA survey:
Requesting the ABSA
California insureds interested in taking the ABSA survey can schedule it at any time, and any individual in the healthcare facility may participate. The survey takes about 10 to 15 minutes to complete, and all compiled data is presented to a Risk Management consultant for review. The consultant prepares the report and compiles appropriate resources and recommended strategies for the associated practice. Reports are expected within 30 days of completion of the ABSA.
Request to take the ABSA today.
Potential Premium Credit
Physicians may be qualified for up to 5% premium credit for completion of the ABSA survey. It is not possible to earn CME through the ABSA, however. For questions, please reach out to our Risk Management team at 844-223-9648 or RiskAdvisor@ProAssurance.com.