As an occupational therapist, you may have a career devoted to helping others. Whether you work in rehabilitation, training, education, or any other area of occupational therapy, you’re often working with patients, patient families, and others who may be seeking support.

Because occupational therapists (OTs) work so closely with others, it can be essential to carry professional insurance, like malpractice insurance. Many professionals across a number of industries opt for this kind of insurance.

Dentists malpractice insurance, for instance, can help dental professionals and practices protect themselves in the event something goes wrong—such as a dentist making a mistake with a patient procedure or being accused of making a mistake.

In recognition of Occupational Therapy Month in April—a celebration of all those dedicated to the field of OT—now is a great time to consider this kind of insurance if you haven’t already. It may very well help you protect your career.

Addressing the Risks in a Healthcare Career

Working in healthcare can mean you’re taking on certain risks. Patient care, including rehabilitation and training, can be full of variables. It can be hard to fully anticipate every variable that may influence the care you give your patients.

As a result, mistakes can be made. That isn’t to say mistakes will be made, but human error is a reality in any profession. In OT, errors can include inappropriate therapy for a patient resulting in negative outcomes or treatment that results in potential injury to a patient.

However, you’ve trained and you’ve practiced your profession as an OT and you may be ready for the challenges that come your way. Thankfully, OTs are typically not the subjects of malpractice claims. It’s one area of healthcare where claims can be more limited. Nevertheless, it can be important to be ready for difficult situations that may arise.

One Setback Doesn’t Have to Define Your Career

In the event a difficult situation arises—and you are subject to a malpractice claim—it doesn’t have to define your career. Malpractice coverage may help you address the financial costs associated with the claim. Coverage can also help ease your legal burden and may provide you with legal representation.

Some malpractice plans even include “reputation coverage.” Reputation coverage can appear in a range of malpractice policies, from nursing malpractice insurance to social worker policies. It’s not always a top-line feature, but may be a coverage extension option.

Why is it there? As a professional, your reputation can play a large role in your future success as an OT. Reputation coverage can take effect in the (rare) event your reputation is called into question. One example may be someone related to the claim posting damaging claims on social media.

Keep Your Career Momentum Going

Having a professional insurance policy may help keep your career momentum going as you grow within your career. Should something happen, you may be protected, which means you have less to worry about. You can rely on your insurer to handle the heavy lifting of a claim so you can continue to focus on providing patient care.

On top of that, having your own malpractice insurance means you have it no matter where you go. If you’re new to occupational therapy and just joined a clinic, you have coverage here and now. If you decide to leave that clinic for another, the coverage follows you.

This can be a significant reason why providers purchase their own plans—even if their employer, like a hospital or clinic, offers coverage. For instance, malpractice insurance for nurses goes with them wherever their careers may take them. It may also have customizable options that employer-sponsored coverage may lack.

Coverage can follow you even if you choose to open your own clinic. As you grow in your career, that may be an option, and having OT malpractice coverage for your clinic can be just as crucial as having your own personal coverage.

Original Source: https://bit.ly/3PPck5X