Page 8 - SFHN October 2021 Issue

Disability Income Risk Cover Story: Dante’s 10th Circle of Hell

for the Physician Continued from page 1 patient was alert and responsive enough
vide warning to the unbidden. Slowly to have personality and bonded with the
What is your most valu- are unable to work, would you nurse. She came in at 7:00 the following
able asset? For most of us sell or could you return? Or opening the door, the nurse or physician morning and learned that he had
it is our ability to generate more importantly how much enters a surreal world of gray, blue, and expired. Her humanity deserves respect
a paycheck. Physicians or is it worth? These are impor- beige, soothing colors that do little to in that she had continued to regard him
other medical profession- tant considerations. Do you dispel the gloom. Gone is the incessant as a human being. More often than not,
als may earn millions of have a succession plan? chatter of nurses, respiratory techs, doc- the only way for healthcare profession-
dollars during their work- There are several important tors who formerly would be going about als to survive is to depersonalize their
ing career, and this income ways to protect your Practice the business of recuperating patients in charges and regard them as “cases.” To
provides our lifestyles. You from the disability of the pri- various stages of illness. The silence of her credit and pain, she had not.
should pay very close mary Physician. One idea is oppressive. Oppressive because unlike Magnifying the loss was the patient’s
attention to your personal tax-deductible Overhead Ex - previous ICU cases where the vast widow and 3 young children. He was in
Disability Income cover- BY SUMMER pense Insurance. This will majority of patients would survive, few his late 30s.
age. If you suffer an injury reimburse the Practice for occupants will recover. The scene was replayed the following
or prolonged illness, and WESTERBUR expenses incurred to help with On one side, are the closed doors of day. This time a pregnant mother with
need to use this important insurance, your employee salaries, temporary replacement cubicles. Holes have been cut into the severe COVID symptoms was flown in.
claim will be governed by this contract. Physician if needed, rent, utilities, equip- doors through which pass various tubes Over the course of several days, her con-
Personal Disability plans should be peri- ment costs/leasing, malpractice. After connecting the patient to IV pumps and dition deteriorated. To try to preserve
odically reviewed because income and accounts receivable are exhausted, how other paraphernalia, allowing adjust- her life and that of her unborn child, a
lifestyles change over our careers. You can would you keep the Business going while ments without entering the patient hysterectomy was performed. The child
self-insure or purchase coverage from an you decide if you can return or not? rooms. This minimizes staff contact survived, but the mother did not.
expert who understands how to tailor a If there are multiple Owners, there are with patients and lowers their potential She left behind several small children
program for your specific needs. Earned important procedures that should be fol- for contracting the virus. On a wall, at home as well as her newborn child
income is a multimillion-dollar asset. If lowed to keep the health of the organism seen only by staff, is a white board post- who will never enjoy her mother’s hugs
you suffer an injury or illness, you need an that is the shared business. A carefully ing the names of the patients. Room 1 or kisses. The emotional effect on her
Advocate to help you when you need it drafted Partnership Agreement is critical on top and 8 on the bottom. Next to caregivers exceeds description.
most. Are you totally disabled or returning and should be regularly reviewed. What their name are symbols. “V” stands for What these cases have in common is
to work? What if you have a relapse? This are the provisions for an injury or illness? ventilator. “T” stands for tracheostomy. the fact that neither of these patients
is when a great agent can help you know How long do the healthy remaining A red dot, “DNR” or do not resuscitate. were vaccinated. Nor are more than
your options and provide assistance. Partners cover for someone that is not The family or the patient has made the 99% of the other cases in the ICU.
So what do you look for in high quality financially contributing? What do you do decision that if their heart stops, they At the end of Dante’s Inferno, his
Personal Disability Income Insurance? if a disabled Partner is only working part will not receive cardiac massage and Purgatorio, is a passage from his female
Most physicians and other medical profes- time and suffering relapses? Do you have often futile measures ICU doctors use to friend Casella: “As I once loved you in
sionals want a contract with a definition of liability if they are not 100 percent preserve life. my mortal flesh, without it now, I love
disability in their specialty practice of healthy? Looking though the glass, the you still.” Why 700 years later should
medicine. But there are other very impor- As a Business Owner it would be wise to patient’s unmoving head and upper this be necessary? Why should the sur-
tant contract features that need to be con- create the exit ramp and buyout for a dis- torso is seen. Their chest rising and viving wife or husband have to love only
sidered. What is the definition of residual abled Partner. This agreement can allow falling with the mechanical rhythm of the memory of their lost spouse? Dante,
disability? Do I need recovery benefits? Do for return to work which may include the ventilators. Others have an in the end, was a poet of hope. As we
I receive a cost of living raise if totally dis- relapses, setbacks or total recovery for a enhanced type of nasal cannula that are have hope that our burden will soon
abled? Can the price of my insurance disabled Physician and Partner. The capable of delivering higher flows of end.
increase or the coverage be canceled dur- Practice will run better if these important precious oxygen. Their breathing is America has overcome 9/11, depres-
ing my working career? guidelines are set in place prior to a dis- more spasmodic: they must work harder sions, recessions, wars, and severe
When disability strikes are you pre- abling event, put in writing, and commu- to supply their bodies with that essential adversity. We will doubtlessly overcome
pared? How will you continue paying your nicated. These are easy prevention strate- ingredient necessary to maintain cellu- this pandemic. Life will again one day
mortgage, auto, and other monthly gies that are cost effective, can be tax lar activity. When it falls too low, a tube become normal. But we need to lower
expenses? Does your retirement contribu- favored, and benefit everyone involved. is placed in their windpipe and a the number of casualties. We have the
tion stop? Could you pay any student machine takes over. Once this occurs, ability. We stopped smoking. We use
loans? There are options in these contracts Summer Westerbur, founder of Kairos their chance for survival is around 10%. seat belts. We have the means to do so.
that will pay your loans, retirement plans, Insurance Group, is experienced in all types And even if they do survive, they likely Creation of the vaccine in less than a
and other expenses in the event of a dis- of insurance including employee benefit pack- will experience profound medical and year is a miracle in itself!
abling injury or illness. Most claims are ill- ages, product liability, general liability, profes- emotional scars. There is only so much pain and suffer-
ness not injury and suffering a long-term sional liability and building insurance. Kairos What is different from our experience ing that the psyche of health givers can
reduction in income could be devastating. also has expanded to include a Cannabis a year ago is the color of the patients’ endure. And they (we) have given them-
If you own a Practice or purchase one, Division to address the unique challenges hair. A year ago, it was gray. Now it is selves selflessly for over a year and a
you have turned into a Business Owner, facing the cannabis industry and its brown. Many men sport beards and half. While there is no Virgil to lead us
this provides opportunity and presents employees. For more information, contact upper torsos that look formidable and out of hell, there are vaccines. There are
expanded risk. As the Owner if you were Summer@kairosinsurancegroup.com robust. Except for the tubes protruding masks. There is simple distancing. To
to suffer from a disabling injury or pro- or call (719) 331-1832. from their nose, mouth or neck, they those who deny the reality of the pan-
longed illness for 60 days or 180 days and look like they could pull out their IV,
pack up their belongings and walk out demic and its morbid consequences, I
of the hospital. It is unlikely that they ask: please help us. Use those measures
will. to keep yourself and others healthy.
O O
WHA T ARRE YOU to be crying softly. The day before, as President of the Broward County Medical

This past week, a nurse was observed
Dr. Arthur E. Palamara is the Past
her patient’s condition worsened, his
AITINGG FORR?
W A family came in. They knew that they Association and a vascular surgeon in
Hollywood, FL.
were probably saying good-by. The
As sociate Degr ee In Nurrsing
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8 October 2021 southfloridahospitalnews.com South Florida Hospital News