HAPI'S PHYSICIANS'
Indemnity Plan
Organizational Structure
MEMBERSHIP
HAPI's Physicians' Indemnity Plan is a membership-run
organization. The membership elects
the Board of Trustees, who are responsible for administering the plan, in
accordance with Hawaii Revised Statute 435E and the Physicians' Indemnity
Plan Agreement.
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Thirteen elected Trustees are in charge of administering
the Plan. Each elected Trustee serves a term of two years. The Chairman of
the Board is William K.K. Lau, M.D.
PEER REVIEW COMMITTEE
A seventeen member Peer Review Committee is appointed
by the Board of Trustees. This committee is in charge of evaluating new physician
applicants and covered members. The
committee is comprised of physician members representing various specialties.
Because of the cooperative structure, the physician members are responsible
for the professional liability claims made against the other members of HAPI.
Therefore, PIP has a strict screening process for all applicants, and
also conducts ongoing peer review of its members.
The application process is designed to identify physicians with good
claims records, that practice the highest quality of medicine and who HAPI
believes will be the least likely to encounter lawsuits. If, after becoming a member, a physician develops
a pattern of practice that the organization believes adds unusual risk, the
member will be counseled by the Peer Review Committee. If the member cannot, or will not, correct
any deficiencies noted by the Peer Review Committee, then the Board of Trustees
has the right to terminate the physician's membership in the Plan.
CLAIMS REVIEW COMMITTEE
A seventeen-member Claims Review committee is appointed
by the Board of Trustees. This Committee
is in charge of developing and implementing programs for the prevention of
claims and for evaluating and making recommendations concerning the disposition
of medical malpractice claims made against members of The Plan.
Members of the Committee must be members of HAPI's Physicians' Indemnity
Plan. Also, any claim made against
a member will not be settled without the member's consent. The organization's
professional staff, its third party claims administrator, its legal counsel
and the Claims Review Committee review all claims made against a member.
The physicians on the Claims Review Committee then make recommendations
to the Board of Trustees, as to whether a case should be settled, tried or
resolved by some other means.
INVESTMENT COMMITTEE
An eight-member Investment committee is appointed by the
Board of Trustees. This Committee is in charge of the financial aspects of The Plan,
including the appropriate investment of funds necessary to pay operating expenses
and claims costs.
MARKETING COMMITTEE
This four-member committee is in charge of developing
strategies for the viability of the membership.
STAFF
Under the direction of the Board
of Trustees, employees are responsible for supporting the membership goals and
objectives.
