It was only a few years ago when hospitals tried to please physicians to gain their support and determine how they can best serve the community and the physicians in the area. The first sign of change occurred several years ago when a hospital in southern California had a board that decided they did not like the individual the medical staff had selected to be “Chief of Staff”. Medical staffs at other hospitals in California felt this was something that should be fought. The physicians ,outraged at this occurrence, did not accomplish much and the road physicians have followed since that time has continued to erode the physician’s ability to control or have any significant role in hospital operation. Many factors have played a role in this.
It was about the time that this occurred or shortly afterward that hospitals began to hire hospitalists. Attending physicians were encouraged to let the hospitalists take care of their patients. Since the hospitalists were hospital employees and were on call for many things there was no need for primary care physicians to be members of the hospital employee. The practices adopted soon became the best interest of the hospital and not as had been the case, the patient.
Gradually the capacity and responsibility for the care of the patient was taken away from the physician and taken over by the “Hospital”. In further pursuit of this goal hospitals have gradually taken over the practice of medicine and converted the physician to employee. Hospitals have better ability to negotiate the cost of medical care and determine where and how it will be administered. Reduction of the cost of medical care seems highly unlikely.
Is all of this in the best interest of our patients!!!
It was about the time that this occurred or shortly afterward that hospitals began to hire hospitalists. Attending physicians were encouraged to let the hospitalists take care of their patients. Since the hospitalists were hospital employees and were on call for many things there was no need for primary care physicians to be members of the hospital employee. The practices adopted soon became the best interest of the hospital and not as had been the case, the patient.
Gradually the capacity and responsibility for the care of the patient was taken away from the physician and taken over by the “Hospital”. In further pursuit of this goal hospitals have gradually taken over the practice of medicine and converted the physician to employee. Hospitals have better ability to negotiate the cost of medical care and determine where and how it will be administered. Reduction of the cost of medical care seems highly unlikely.
Is all of this in the best interest of our patients!!!
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