Event management. The event management component of the Program implements a new approach to preventing events from maturing into lawsuits combined with aggressive claims management. Event management is an evolving concept, where systems are developed to manage information, documentation, and behavior after an event has occurred. In supporting management of events as they occur, Stevens & Lee will help Novus-insureds to provide their patients with thoughtful and meaningful information and to create evidence which can be used for the insureds and not against them, thereby derailing claims and lawsuits. Event management also provides for a process of continuous quality improvement, forming the basis of a “near miss laboratory” from which every insured can benefit.

Litigation strategy. Sometimes events will turn into claims, and those claims will be attacked more aggressively than previously done in the litigation arena, using innovative litigation strategies. Only attorneys with significant experience and an institutional commitment to the defense only will be on our national panel. Our attorneys will all invest in the use of technology in the courtroom and agree to participate in national conferences on bariatric surgery. Further, we will improve the foundation of the defense by having managed the earlier event and having handled the claims management, all allowing Novus to have a more effective and aggressive defense. Early evaluation of how the defense should proceed, evaluation for counterclaims, as well as consideration of claims against expert witnesses will all be incorporated.