With cyberattacks becoming increasingly common among businesses in the health care industry, it’s critical to take every conceivable precaution to protect your data. Yet, many businesses are still of the “it’ll never happen to me” mindset. Check out our #RiskyBusiness video for tips on how to protect and prepare your business from a ransomware attack.              In addition, read our real-life claims scenario, where you’ll...

When club owners think of preparing for winter, turf management is usually what comes to mind. While the course is your most valuable asset, don’t forget about winterizing equipment, buildings, and other outdoor spaces that support your business. Preparing your property for Mother Nature now can help mitigate risks once winter arrives, and allow for a stress-free holiday season. Here are nine winterizing best practices: 1. Have building roofs inspected. A little preparation can go a long...

If your business provides services of any kind to patients’ homes, you’re in a unique position when it comes to risk. Both General Liability risks (incidents that happen on the premises of the patient’s home) and Professional Liability risks (incidents that result in patient injury usually due to caregiver error) need to be top of mind for all your employees. Whether your employees are delivering equipment, transporting a patient, providing skilled or non-skilled home care, or...

In recent years, dry needling has increasingly been used in physical therapy settings to alleviate pain and increase range of motion for patients. During this procedure, thin needles are pushed through the skin into the muscle at specific trigger points to induce a twitch reflex. It’s generally a safe procedure. However, as with any procedure, there are potential complications. In the story below—based on an actual claim—you’ll see through the eyes of a physical therapist...

Making your club a place for kids has many benefits. It can make the lives of parents easier since they don’t have to arrange for a sitter, it turns a visit to the club into a family experience, and it brings in extra revenue for your business. However, while there are benefits, there can be risks as well. Allowing kids at your club means you must take extra precautions to ensure that they are kept safe from harm when on your property. We’ve compiled a list of potential risks to having...

For the third time in five years, VGM Group has been selected as Iowa’s Top Workplace among large employers. The company has taken the top spot in each of the three years it has participated: 2015, 2017, and 2019. Rankings for the award are based entirely on employees’ opinions from an anonymous survey performed by Energage, a leading research firm that specializes in organizational health and workplace improvement. The survey asks employees to assess metrics such as engagement,...

Facing an unexpected disaster, whether it be a hurricane, fire, earthquake or even terrorist activity is daunting for any business. And those in the healthcare industry have even more to worry about than their facilities and equipment. Nursing homes, hospices and other patient care facilities have the responsibility of looking after the most vulnerable among us. These populations rely on their caregivers for more than their daily needs. In the event of a disaster, they’ll be looking to you...

Given the hustle and bustle of today’s culture, many of us may find it difficult to keep up with all of the communications we receive, including those that are addressed through the mail. In certain instances, however, missing a piece of mail could be extremely costly to your business. In the scenario below – based on a true story – you’ll walk in the shoes of an owner of a Home Medical Equipment company who sees what can happen if you’re not keeping a close eye on...

Making a Difference for Man's Best Friend When the VGM Insurance Services team chose the Cedar Bend Humane Society (CBHS) as their charity to support in 2019, little did they know the difference they would be making. The team-building experiences for themselves would be secondary to the positive effect they would have on the 30+ dogs at the facility, and the CBHS organization as a whole. Of the many projects and needs on CBHS’ wish list, the group decided to tackle a large one:...

How to Create a Hurricane Preparedness Plan for Your Golf Course or Country Club With hurricane season in full swing, you’ll find numerous articles and blog posts with tips on how businesses can prepare for Mother Nature’s wrath. However, golf courses and country clubs have a unique set of risks, since many operations include hospitality and retail elements. In addition to protecting your main asset – your course – emergency planning and insurance coverage become complex...