ENGAGING AN INFECTION PREVENTION CONSULTANT CAN REDUCE YOUR LIABILITY INSURANCE PREMIUMS

Having an infection prevention consultant evaluate your facility can potentially help reduce liability insurance costs, depending on the outcomes of their assessment and the actions you take.

Here is a concise explanation:

1. Improved Risk Profile: An infection prevention consultant assesses your facility’s infection control practices, policies, and compliance with standards (e.g., CDC guidelines, CMS requirements). If their evaluation leads to stronger protocols—such as better hand hygiene, staff training, or surveillance systems—this can lower the risk of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs). Insurers often reward facilities with robust risk management practices with lower liability insurance premiums, as the likelihood of costly claims (e.g., lawsuits averaging $267,174 for infection-related issues in assisted living) decreases.

2. Consultant Recommendations: The consultant’s findings can identify gaps and provide actionable steps to improve infection control. Implementing these recommendations can demonstrate to insurers that your facility is proactive, potentially qualifying you for discounts or better rates. For example, studies show that effective infection prevention programs can save facilities $252,847 to $1,691,823 annually by reducing HAIs, which also lowers liability exposure.

3. Insurance Considerations: Liability insurance costs are influenced by claims history, coverage limits, and risk mitigation. A consultant’s report showing strong infection control practices can strengthen your case when negotiating with insurers. However, if the consultant uncovers significant issues and you don’t address them, insurers might view your facility as higher risk, potentially increasing premiums until improvements are made.

4. Limitations: The reduction in insurance costs isn’t guaranteed and depends on your insurer’s criteria, the consultant’s findings, and your follow-through. For example, if the consultant identifies major deficiencies, you may need to invest in fixes before seeing premium reductions. Additionally, cost savings may take time to materialize as insurers typically reassess premiums during renewals.

   
   

Conclusion: Engaging an infection prevention consultant can help reduce liability insurance costs by improving your facility’s infection control practices and risk profile, provided you implement their recommendations effectively. To maximize benefits, ask the consultant for a detailed report you can share with your insurer and document all improvements. If you have specific details about your facility or insurance, let me know, and I can tailor the answer further!

For more information on infection prevention strategies, email Tricia Holderman at triciaholderman@icloud.com.