Netcare and EthiQal lead the way with landmark move
Netcare has announced a landmark partnership with a leading insurer, EthiQal, a division of Constantia Insurance Company Limited. Through this partnership, EthiQal will offer qualifying specialists practising at Netcare hospitals where CareOn, the Group’s fully mobile electronic medical records system (EMR) has been implemented, a financial benefit for reducing their medico-legal risk through CareOn. This represents an innovative first in South Africa and a landmark move for EMR in the sector.
Announcing this partnership, Netcare chief executive officer, Dr Richard Friedland commented, “This is another step in Netcare’s commitment to promoting, protecting, and maintaining healthcare delivery of the highest quality to our patients. Qualifying specialists will have the opportunity to access a customised, exclusive EthiQal professional indemnity policy, and may receive a significant cashback as CareOn participants, payable at the time of their annual policy renewal.
“In South Africa, the medico-legal burden remains high, while the USA is seeing a significant decline in both the frequency and quantum of claims. The increasing use of electronic medical records, together with other measures that also focus on optimising patient safety and outcomes, has significantly contributed to these downward trends,” Dr Friedland explains.
“At EthiQal, we are driven by our vision to support and protect doctors and their patients through optimised and innovative risk management solutions. There is a perfect fit between us, Netcare and Netcare’s CareOn initiative, and we are delighted to be partnering with Netcare to bring additional innovation and protection to doctors and patients,” explains Alex Brownlee, executive at EthiQal.
“Our partnership with EthiQal will ultimately ensure specialists using Netcare’s CareOn system are able to benefit directly by preventing, mitigating and improving their medico-legal risk, as has been proven in the US. What’s most important is that patients will reap the benefits of receiving the best and safest care,” Dr Friedland concluded.
The official launch of the offering to these specialists is expected during July 2022.