I know I complained about collecting new doctors like a rock rolling downhill gathers moss. It's true. I already had one primary care doctor and two specialists to answer to prior to my rTSA. I added an orthopod, a pulmonologist, a thoracic surgeon, and two hospitalists to the list as a result of reverse total shoulder replacement surgery and pneumothorax. Fortunately the hospitalists stayed with the hospital and were only my doctors while I was an inpatient. But now, instead of three doctors, I have six looking out for me. Fortunately five of them have joined the increasing trend of becoming employees of the hospital rather than maintain private practices. If I did not have personal experience, I would presume these were less than Grade A+ doctors who were taking the easy way out. So not true!
Everyone of them has great credentials, excellent training at first rate hospitals. Their offices are well run.. organized, staffed with efficient people, responsive and located conveniently right in the hospital complex. Why would smart young doctors be willing to give up autonomy and become employees of a hospital system?
Meeting salaries, rent, operating costs, malpractice insurance, overhead and unexpected disasters are not young Dr. Kildare's responsibility. If the roof leaks, the receptionist quits, or the electric bill doubles someone else will handle it.
Cash compensations for signing up with a hospital can be significant and give a young physician a boost in starting his career. Salaries are often higher than a starting out physician might expect to earn in a private practice.
Benefit packages, like health care, are standardized and predictable. Doctors employed by the hospital usually have the same package as clerical staff. Someone else, someone with a Business degree, will deal with the morass of health care rules and regulations.
Physicians are often backed up by well trained ancillary staff like nurse practitioners who see the more routine patient leaving the doctor time to practice at the top of their skill level. Everyone feels more challenged in their role as health care provider. It's nice to be part of a team.
While specialists are already seeing high compensation for services, government health care programs are beginning to recognize the value of the primary care doctor and fees for service are being increased for doctors in this category.
Employed physicians are taking on greater roles in the administrative operations of the hospital. As doctors become more involved in the operation of the hospital they may see opportunities in administration that would not be there in a private practice.
Finally, wage negotiations may not be all about salaries. Educational packages, student loan pay outs, sabbatical breaks are all fair game. Work hours and vacation can be on the negotiating table.
So far it looks like it is turning into a winning arrangement that lets the doctor focus on the patient. Already 25% of physicians are now working as employees of hospital systems. And I am finding that it is very satisfactory to me, the patient. We'll see where it goes in the next few years.
http://youtu.be/rwv7FYqV2Wo
Archive timeline: 2014: May and June - preparing for surgery, July - surgery and post op problems, August - recovery and physical therapy, September - thinking medically, Octobe
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