How a safety-first workplace culture can keep your Workers’ Compensation costs low.
Workplace culture refers to the way things are done at your office. It refers the mindsets, attitudes, and behaviors of staff and owners. Having an influential wellness and safety-first workplace culture is an important part to keeping your Workers’ Compensation (WC) costs low. Here are some tips:
- IT STARTS AT THE TOP: Follow all the safety protocols and policies and encourage fellow employees to do the same. If leadership doesn’t buy in to workplace safety than neither will the employees. Hold people accountable and be transparent.
- COMMUNICATE: Your office should have safety protocols and policies openly available for all employees. Keep them updated as your business changes and hold monthly safety meetings to reinforce your expectations.
- KEEP AN OPEN DOOR: Encourage your employees to report hazards or talk to you about any safety related concerns. Their work spans many areas of your practice, let them act as your eyes and ears. Their involvement and feedback are crucial to maintaining a safety-first workplace.
These very basic guidelines can help you keep your claims low!
What is AmeriProtect?
Who owns and operates AmeriProtect?
AmeriProtect, located in Lansing, Michigan, is owned by the Michigan Association of Chiropractors (MAC) and its operations run out of the MAC headquarters. It is governed by its own Board of Trustees, all MAC members, who oversee the growth and transparency of the group.
Where do the profits go?
In short, all profits stay in the profession. Sure, there are overhead costs, but the mission of AmeriProtect is to provide quality, affordable insurance products to Michigan chiropractors, while keeping their hard-earned financial resources in the chiropractic profession.
How does AmeriProtect benefit the chiropractic profession?
Normally, when chiropractors purchase their health and workers’ compensation from other carriers, that money spent is NEVER returned to the profession. In fact, some carriers actively lobby against chiropractors at the capital. Here is a quote from a senior Blue Cross official testifying against Michigan Senate Bill 282 (which would require workers’ compensation to pay for all chiropractic services legally performed under our scope of practice):
“This bill expands reimbursement for chiropractic care into the primary care arena, which we believe jeopardizes patient safety and exposes injured workers to the risk of misdiagnosis and unnecessary care. A worker’s health and safety is our foremost concern whether it is on the job site or in the exam room. By not interacting with a primary care doctor, the patient risks a delay in receiving appropriate care.”
In short, the money most chiropractors are spending on health and workers’ compensation coverages is funding opposition activities. AmeriProtect wants to help stop that process.
