Page 9 - SFHN SEPTEMBER 2021

The Imperative to Increase Cover Story: Danna-Gracey to Expand

COVID-19 Vaccinations Coverages, Access to Specialists

Our brave frontline July 2020 of confirmed
healthcare heroes continue COVID hospitalizations Through Risk Strategies Merger
to courageously respond to was slightly more than
this significant surge in 10,000. Of those hospital- Continued from page 1 carriers in the business,” said Bob
COVID patients in our hos- ized today, many are 2020 list. The company has more than Dubraski, Risk Strategies’ chief growth
pitals. It is indescribable the younger than 55. Almost 100 locations throughout the nation, as officer and national health care practice
level of stress and strain they all are unvaccinated. well as a staff of more than 2,500. leader. “Danna-Gracey has a great team
have been under for more Unlike last year when “Merging with a company of this size and a well-deserved reputation in this
than 17 months and the COVID-19 disproportion- will give us the ability to bring in special- complex specialty. We’re excited they
heartbreaking losses they ately affected the elderly ists, as well as all types of different cov- have joined Risk Strategies and our
have experienced. Between and those with chronic erages from malpractice insurance to national team of dedicated health care
increasing numbers of conditions, the current cyber to fine art,” said Gracey. industry professionals.”
COVID patients and unusu- BY MARY MAYHEW peak is affecting younger, “One of the things that attracted us While Danna-Gracey will assume the
ally high patient volume of healthy people who are at most was their health care division,” he Risk Strategies’ name, clients can rest
extremely ill non-COVID greatest risk not only of added. “It is extremely well-led, and the assured that they will be working with
patients, our hospitals are working to contracting COVID-19 but also of being team is very well-versed in all of the dif- the same insurance professionals that
maximize their available staff and beds, hospitalized with severe illness. More ferent complex risks that are now they’ve trusted for the last two decades.
including the use of conference rooms than 78 percent of those age 60 and older becoming much more commonplace.” “Clients will still be working with us,
and cafeterias. Many hospitals across the are fully vaccinated, but among those age Risk Strategies’ Health Care Practice, but now when they want more complex
state currently sit at or above their previ- 30 and younger, the rates hover around one of the industry’s largest, is a fully types of coverages, we will be able to
ous peak in COVID cases, sometimes 42 percent. integrated national specialty team offer- bring in specialists from the Risk
caring for two to three times the number This tragedy is avoidable. ing all lines of insurance and reinsurance Strategies’ team,” said Gracey. “Instead of
of COVID patients served during the In contrast to the early months of vac- for all types of health care organizations. having to go outside of our agency to
July 2020 previous peak. cine rollout, the vaccines now are widely Risk Strategies approached Danna- find those specialists, we will have them
As our hospitals fight to save every life available and easily accessible. Most Gracey approximately six months ago on staff, which is much more advanta-
possible, one thing about this current pharmacies, clinics, and other health about the merger, impressed by its acu- geous for our clients.
peak in the pandemic is absolutely clear, care sites have vaccines ready to admin- men in placing coverage for specific “Our specialty focus built our
this is a pandemic of the unvaccinated. ister. And, the vaccines are free. In addi- medical specialties and practices, as well statewide success, and joining a nation-
Florida effectively prioritized the vac- tion, while temporary side effects, such as its innovative approach to effective, al-scale firm with that same focus on spe-
cination of our senior citizens and those as fever, chills, and injection site sore- affordable coverage such as risk purchas- cialist expertise means our business and
most vulnerable when the vaccines first ness, are common after vaccination, they ing groups, which allow specialists with its people can grow and our clients will
arrived for the public. More than 80% of do not appear to be long lasting or life like risks to collectively negotiate for have easy access to a wider range of
our seniors are vaccinated. Now the threatening. This is in stark contrast to insurance coverage. experts and services,” he added.
same urgency we demonstrated in pro- “long COVID,” a condition that afflicts a “Medical professional liability insur-
tecting the most vulnerable must be yet-unknown number of people and ance and risk management are crucial for To learn more about Risk Strategies,
shown for vaccinating every eligible causes symptoms ranging from fatigue physicians and require deep expertise contact Matt Gracey at (800) 966-2120
Floridian. and joint pain to heart and lung damage and strong relationships with the best or visit www.dannagracey.com.
While some Floridians cannot yet get that linger well after an individual is first
vaccinated, too many of those who are infected with the virus that causes
eligible are opting out. This must COVID-19.
change. The COVID-19 vaccines are the gold
Like polio and smallpox before it, standard of biomedical research, repre-
COVID-19 is now a vaccine-preventable senting collaboration and cooperation
disease. While no vaccine is 100 percent among scientists around the world who
effective at preventing illness, the have worked for years on RNA vaccines
COVID-19 vaccines have proven to be (the technology behind the Moderna and
remarkably effective at preventing seri- Pfizer vaccines) and other types of coro-
ous illness, hospitalizations, and deaths. naviruses. The U.S. Food and
Nearly 100 percent of fully vaccinated Administration authorized the vaccines
individuals (99.99 percent) have not had only after rigorous clinical trials.
a severe breakthrough case of COVID- More than 40,000 Floridians have died
19, according to the Centers for Disease of COVID-19. Vaccination can prevent
Control and Prevention. more losses. The end to the pandemic
Unfortunately, today, our hospitals and and preventable suffering depends on all
physicians, nurses, and other health care of us doing our part, rolling up our
professionals are experiencing the all- sleeves, and getting vaccinated.
too-familiar tragedy, stress, and strain of
caring for an exponentially growing Find a vaccine location at floridahealth-
number of patients with COVID-19. As covid19.gov/vaccines/vaccine-locator/.
of August 15, more than 15,600
Floridians were hospitalized with Mary Mayhew is President and CEO of
COVID-19; our previous highest peak in the Florida Hospital Association.

E-mail Your Editorial Submissions to
editorial@southfloridahospitalnews.com

South Florida Hospital News southfloridahospitalnews.com September 2021 9