More collateral damage from the NECC mess ?

This recently showed up in my inbox..

I came across an interesting topic this week.  My girlfriend and I are both renewing personal pharmacist liability policies.  Her policy more than doubled while mine stayed the same.  Her policy is through xxxxxxxxx and because we work in a hospital and do some sterile compounding (they told her even a potassium bolus)  she must add a rider to her policy to cover her.  I have xxxxx and I plan to check with them Monday to see if I am covered.  This is what she received from xxxxxxxxxx
Sterile Compounding Excluded

Your policy renewal excludes coverage for sterile compounding.  However, if you do sterile compounding, please see below how coverage may be obtained.  This modification has been made to offer levels of coverage more tailored to individual practices, and to offer basic professional liability coverage at a reduced premium…..Coverage for sterile compounding is still available.  Please contact us at xxxxxxxx to request coverage for sterile compounding.

She thought at first that they meant compounding pharmacies rather than hospital pharmacists that check and occasionally make IV products as part of their daily activities.  Nope!  They meant us!  She also pointed out that she no longer gives immunizations to patients but apparently they consider that less risky than checking a cefazolin piggyback.  I am afraid that I have been paying xxxxx all of these years for essentially “no coverage.”

As a foot note.. if you work for a corporate employer.. you need to have your own personal professional liability insurance… if you make a mistake.. you are – most likely – breaking the company’s policies & procedures.. and.. if there is enough money going to be involved.. the company can take the position.. that you broke the company’s policies and procedures and that they have no liability or financial responsibly for what you are being sued over. If you don’t think that your company will take that position.. just think how hard they work – and work you – to add every penny they can to their bottom line..  You put that bottom line at risk.. you become nothing but a financial liability and they need to put as much distance between them and you.. as they can. Professional liability insurance  typically costs about one-half day’s pay…  May be one of the best investments you ever make…

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