Practice management

Studying the competition and creating a better policyholder experience will go a long way toward building customer loyalty.

Washington — American consumers want more from their health care system than they're currently getting—greater online connection to health care providers and medical records, customized insurance coverage and wider access to emerging innovations such as retail clinics, a new survey from Deloitte Development LLC reveals.

Ronald Katz, the well-known telecom technology inventor, is calling the shots with several large insurers—but for how long?

Dallas — Republic Companies Inc. acquired Four Corners Insurance Services Inc., a general agency based in Phoenix, Ariz. Four Corners specializes in non-standard auto insurance coverages produced through independent insurance agents in Arizona, Oklahoma, Oregon, Utah and Washington, D.C. Philo Smith Capital Corp. served as Four Corners' broker in this transaction.

Mobile units enable insurers to provide immediate lines of aid to those affected by recent tornadoes.

Cambridge, Mass. — A new Web site created by Liberty Mutual is generating acclaim for its ability to educate Generations X and Y about the value of renters insurance. Youcovered.com, is an online experience that has already received several industry awards including a "Best in Class" Interactive Media Award (IMA) and "Site of the Week" from Communications Arts since its debut in October 2007. It was also recognized as a finalist in the 2007 MITX (Massachusetts Innovation & Technology exchange) Awards. The Web site was designed and implemented by Sapient Interactive, the marketing services group of Sapient.

Sacramento, Calif. – Fireman’s Fund Insurance Co., Novato, Calif., is entering the ever-expanding wine industry with an “Insurance for Wineries” product that includes coverages specifically created for the business of growing, making and selling wine.

New York — AIG Executive Liability SM, a division of the New York-based property/casualty insurance subsidiaries of American International Group Inc. (AIG), announced AIG PrivateEdge Plus SM, a package policy of seven management and professional liabilities products allowing private companies to purchase multiple coverages in one complete package.

Insurers need to create the right mix of technology and human interaction to better serve their multi-generational customers.

Peoria Heights, Ill. — Pearl Dental Insurance recently launched a new Web site that provides an immediate, online quote rating engine for insurance brokers and dental plan prospects living in most states.

New York — Fifty-five percent of well-insured adults go online six or more times a week, according to Experian Research Services. As the insurance industry has the highest customer acquisition cost in business today, an online strategy is necessary to attracting these well-insured prospects.

Wellesley, Mass. — The digital world is transforming the way information is organized and stored, and companies across all lines of business are being charged with using emerging technology solutions to support the customer experience in new and innovative ways, according to experts at an e-business thought leadership conference held January 16 and 17 in Wellesley, Mass.

Despite barriers such as cost, electronic health records are slowly but surely becoming a technological cornerstone of the health insurance

New York — AIG Executive Liability, a division of the property/casualty insurance subsidiaries of American International Group Inc. (AIG), announced AIG e-Discovery Solutions, a program of e-discovery-related products and services to help all of AIG Executive Liability’s clients, including the division’s directors and officers and errors and omissions insureds, more effectively manage the e-discovery process. AIG e-Discovery Solutions is a claims service offered by AIG Executive Liability to their clients.

Chicago — Tri-City Brokerage, a division of Crump Insurance Services Inc., a Dallas-based insurance wholesaler, announced an expansion of their binding authority group, Tri-City Binding Authorities. The new financial services binding authority provides D&O, E&O, EPLI, Crime and Fiduciary coverage for numerous classes. Target industries include community associations, nonprofit organizations and for-profit companies, miscellaneous service providers, property managers and technology service companies.

Hopkinton, Mass. and Carlsbad, Calif., - EMC Corp., a Hopkinton, Mass.-based information infrastructure solutions provider, and Carlsbad, Calif.-based Document Sciences Corp. signed a definitive agreement whereby EMC will acquire publicly-held Document Sciences in a cash transaction valued at approximately $85,000,000. Document Sciences is a provider of document output management (DOM) software that facilitates highly personalized, multi-channel communications to customers, partners and suppliers. The acquisition complements and extends EMC's position in the transactional content management marketplace, the fastest-growing segment of enterprise content management, according to the company.

Despite taking much longer than initially expected, e-signature adoption is picking up steam, but is it worth it?

Though customer relationship management has been hyped, then written off, carriers are finding new uses for the technology.

Alpharetta, Ga. - BB&T Insurance Services plans to expand its metro Atlanta operation with the acquisition of Ott & Co. of Alpharetta, Ga.

New York - XL Insurance, the global insurance operation of XL Capital Ltd., has completed the purchase of Global Asset Protection Services LLC (GAPS) from Swiss Re. GAPS is a provider of unbundled loss prevention consulting services, offering individually tailored risk management solutions to risk managers, insurance brokers and insurance company clients operating on a global basis.