Healthcare Professional Liability Glossary

A robust glossary of terms you need to become a healthcare professional liability expert.

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A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

A

Agent of Record (AOR)

Also known as a Broker of Record Change or BOR. A document or process which legally establishes the relationship between broker, policyholder, and insurance company. A broker of record letter can be used to designate a broker of record for the first time or to replace an existing broker of record with a new one.

(Investopedia)

Ambulatory Surgery Center (ASC)

A healthcare facility that offers patients the convenience of having surgeries and procedures performed safely outside the hospital setting.

(Ambulatory Surgery Center Association)

Assisted Living Facility (ALF)

A residential setting that provides personal care and health services for people who require assistance with daily activities but do not need the intensive medical and nursing care provided by a nursing home.

(National Council On Aging)

B

Bodily Injury (BI)

Any damage to a person's physical condition, including physical pain, injury, illness, or impairment.

(11 Wash. Prac., Pattern Jury Instr. Crim. WPIC 2.03 (5th Ed))

Broker of Record (BOR)

Also known as a Broker of Record Change, Agent of Record Change or AOR. A document or process which legally establishes the relationship between broker, policyholder, and insurance company. A broker of record letter can be used to designate a broker of record for the first time or to replace an existing broker of record with a new one.

(Investopedia)

Business Liability Insurance (BLI)

Insurance that provides coverage for bodily injury, personal injury, and property damage caused by the insured's business operations, products, or accidents on the premises.

(The Hartford)

C

Certificate of Insurance (COI)

A document used to provide information on specific insurance coverages. It verifies that an insurance policy has been issued to the insured.

(Investopedia)

Certified Nurse Aide (CNA)

A person who assists patients with healthcare needs under the supervision of a Registered Nurse (RN) or a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN).

(CNA Training Institute)

Certified Nurse Midwife (CNM)

A nurse who has specialized education and training in midwifery. CNMs provide care to women across their lifespan, including during pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period.

(American College of Nurse-Midwives)

Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA)

An advanced practice registered nurse who specializes in the administration of anesthesia.

(Cleveland Clinic)

Certified Registered Nurse Practitioner (CRNP)

An advanced practice nurse who provides healthcare services similar to those of a physician.

(Pennsylvania Coalition of Nurse Practitioners)

Commercial General Liability Insurance (CGL/CGLI)

Insurance that provides coverage for bodily injury, personal injury, and property damage caused by the insured's business operations, products, or accidents on the premises.

(The Hartford)

Community Health Center (CHC)

A non-profit clinic that provides primary and preventive care services to people, regardless of their ability to pay.

(Alameda Health Consortium)

Curriculum Vitae (CV)

Also known as a Resume - In the insurance context, a CV typically refers to a comprehensive document that outlines the professional history, qualifications, and credentials of a healthcare provider. It includes details such as education, professional experience, certifications, licenses, publications, and any other relevant professional activities. This document is often used by insurance companies to verify the qualifications and background of the healthcare providers they insure or contract with.

D

Date of Death (DOD)

The specific calendar day when an insured passes away, as verified by recognized medical personnel or reliable source.

(Law Insider)

Date of Loss (DOL)

The specific and exact date when an event or incident occurred that resulted in damage or loss covered by an insurance policy.

(Vince Perri, LinkedIn)

Death, Disability, and Retirement (DDR)

A provision in some insurance policies covering an individual in the event of death, disability, or retirement.

(Walker & Skrodenis, Death, Disability, and Retirement Coverage: Pricing the “Free” Claims-Made Tail)

Declarations Page of Insurance Policy

Also known as a Declarations Page or Dec-Page - A document that outlines the key details of an insurance policy, including the policyholder's name, coverage limits, and policy period.

(Investopedia)

Directors & Officers (D&O)

Liability insurance payable to the directors and officers of a company, or to the organization itself, as indemnification for losses or defense costs in the event of a lawsuit.

(Investopedia)

Download D&O Sell Sheet

E

Electronic Health Record (EHR)

A digital version of a patient's paper chart, making information available instantly and securely to authorized users.

(Health IT)

Emergency Department (ED)

Often used synonymously with Emergency Room/ER. a hospital facility that is staffed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and provides unscheduled outpatient services to patients whose condition requires immediate care.

(CDC)

Emergency Medical Services (EMS)

Most recognizable by its vehicles, helicopters and workforce, which respond to emergency incidents. Services providing out-of-hospital acute medical care, transport to definitive care, and other medical transport to patients with illnesses and injuries.

(EMS)

Emergency Room (ER)

Often used synonymously with Emergency Department/ED. A hospital room or area staffed and equipped for the reception and treatment of persons requiring immediate medical care.

(Merriam-Webster)

Employment Practices Liability (EPL)

Insurance that provides protection against claims arising from employment practices such as wrongful termination, discrimination, sexual harassment, and retaliation.

(Investopedia)

Download EPL Sell Sheet

Excess Insurance (EX)

Also known as excess liability insurance. A type of liability insurance that can provide extra protection for businesses and individuals in the event of unexpected circumstances. Umbrella insurance can cover claims that other policies might not, or that exceed their coverage limits.

(Travelers)

Extended Reporting Period (ERP)

Often used synonymously with Tail Coverage - The designated time period after a claims-made policy has expired during which a claim may be made and coverage triggered as if the claim had been made during the policy period.

(IRMI)

F

G

General Liability (GL/GLI)

Also referred to as business liability and commercial general liability (CGL) - Insurance that provides coverage for bodily injury, personal injury, and property damage caused by the insured's business operations, products, or accidents on the premises.

(The Hartford)

H

Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA)

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) is a federal law that required the creation of national standards to protect sensitive patient health information from being disclosed without the patient's consent or knowledge.

(CDC)

Healthcare Professional Liability (HPL)

Also referred to as Medical Professional Liability or MPL - Professional liability insurance specifically related to the healthcare and medical fields which cover claims arising from errors, mistakes, or negligence in the delivery of professional services.

While MPL is often used synonymously with HPL, HPL is a much larger umbrella which encompasses MPL.

Healthcare Professional Liability may include, but if not limited to:

Medical Malpractice
Professional Liability
General Liability
Excess & Umbrella
Stand-Alone ERP/Tail
Medical Billing E&O
Directors & Officers
Employment Practices
Cyber Liability
Non-Owned Auto

I

Independent Medical Exam

An objective medical-legal examination requested (by L&I or self-insurer) to establish medical findings, opinions, and conclusions about a worker's physical condition. These examinations may only be conducted by L&I-approved examiners who are not involved in the care of the patient being evaluated. Often used to resolve disputes in workers' compensation or personal injury cases.

(Washington State Department of Labor & Industries)

J

K

L

Length of Stay (LOS)

A clinical metric that measures the time elapsed between a patient’s hospital admittance and discharge.

(Definitive Healthcare)

Long Term Care (LTC)

1) Services designed to provide care for patients who can no longer perform everyday activities on their own. There is no explicit standard for duration of care. Services may include home-based, community, and/or residential care.

(NIH - National Institute on Aging)

2) As a class of business, usually refers to an inpatient facility that houses elderly patients for long periods of time, such as nursing homes, assisted living facilities, etc.

M

Managed Care Organization (MCO)

A health care company or a health plan that is focused on managed care as a model to limit costs, while keeping quality of care high.

(Cigna Healthcare)

Management Services Organization (MSO)

An entity that provides administrative and management services to healthcare practices.

(Cope Health Solutions)

Medical Malpractice

Any act or omission by a physician during treatment of a patient that deviates from accepted norms of practice in the medical community and causes an injury to the patient. Medical malpractice is a specific subset of tort law that deals with professional negligence.

(NIH - National Library of Medicine)

Medical Malpractice Insurance (Med Mal)

Often times erroneously used interchangeably with Healthcare/Medical Professional Liability (HPL or MPL respectively), Medical Malpractice Insurance is a line of coverage which...

Medical Professional Liability (MPL)

Also referred to as Healthcare Professional Liability or HPL - Professional liability insurance specifically related to the healthcare and medical fields which cover claims arising from errors, mistakes, or negligence in the delivery of professional services.

While MPL is often used synonymously with HPL, HPL is a much larger umbrella which encompasses MPL.

Healthcare Professional Liability may include, but if not limited to:

Medical Malpractice
Professional Liability
General Liability
Excess & Umbrella
Stand-Alone ERP/Tail
Medical Billing E&O
Directors & Officers
Employment Practices
Cyber Liability
Non-Owned Auto

N

Nurse Practitioner (NP)

a nurse who has advanced clinical education and training. NPs share many of the same duties as doctors. They perform physical exams, diagnose and treat diseases and other health conditions, and prescribe medication. A nurse practitioner must have a graduate-level degree of education.

(The Cleveland Clinic)

O

P

Physical Therapy (PT)

Exercises, massages and various treatments based on physical stimuli (e.g. heat, cold, electrical currents or ultrasound). These approaches are used to treat acute and chronic symptoms, and also to prevent future problems – or for rehabilitation after long-term medical problems, surgery or injuries.

(NIH - National Library of Medicine)

Physicians Assistant (PA)

A licensed medical professional who holds an advanced degree and can provide direct patient care. They work with patients of all ages in virtually all specialty and primary care areas, diagnosing and treating common illnesses and working with minor procedures.

(The Mayo Clinic)

Professional Liability (PL)

A type of liability coverage designed to protect professionals and businesses from errors and omissions in performing their professional services. This coverage can protect traditional professionals (e.g., accountants, attorneys) and quasi-professionals (e.g., real estate brokers, consultants). Although there are a few exceptions (e.g., physicians, architects, engineers), most professional liability policies only cover economic or financial losses suffered by third parties, as opposed to bodily injury (BI) and property damage (PD) claims that are typically covered under commercial general liability (CGL) policies. The vast majority of professional liability policies are written with claims-made coverage triggers, and the insurer's payment of defense costs reduces available policy limits.

(IRMI)

Q

R

Resume

Also referred to as a Curriculum Vitae or CV - In the insurance context, a resume typically refers to a comprehensive document that outlines the professional history, qualifications, and credentials of a healthcare provider. It includes details such as education, professional experience, certifications, licenses, publications, and any other relevant professional activities. This document is often used by insurance companies to verify the qualifications and background of the healthcare providers they insure or contract with.

Retroactive Date Inception (RDI)

Any work undertaken or advice given before the start date of a policy which will not be covered.

(AACA)

S

Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF)

A type of inpatient facility that provides short or long-term skilled nursing care, and rehabilitation services to patients. These facilities provide 24-hour medical support to patients requiring transitional care following a qualifying hospital stay for illness, injury, or surgery.

(Definitive Healthcare)

T

Tail Coverage (Tail)

Also known as “Extended Reporting Period” or "ERP"- Optional coverage extension for a claims-made policy that gives the insured an additional period of time within which to report claims to the insurer arising from prior wrongful acts.

(PRMS)

U

Umbrella Insurance (UMB)

Also known as excess liability insurance - A type of liability insurance that can provide extra protection for businesses and individuals in the event of unexpected circumstances. Umbrella insurance can cover claims that other policies might not, or that exceed their coverage limits.

(Travelers)

Unallocated Loss Adjustment Expense (ULAE)

All external, internal, and administrative claims handling expenses, including determination of coverage, that are not included in allocated loss adjustment expenses.

(IRMI)

V

W

X

Y

Z

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