medical professionals no longer there.

[rockriver]

I went to a seminar recently and a fella explained how many doctors and other support personnel were just cut loose from their large regional hospital.
when he was asked why, his reply was "obamacare."
I was sad to hear it but didn't think we had that situation in our area..
returning from seminar
my wife advised that her main doctor of 20 years was no longer at large practice... I asked where he went, as he was not an "old man"
she didn't know.
she then pointed out two other local doctors that are not in practice here.
one of them went about 100 miles down the road, so we know he's still in the area..
I spent most of last week in a large hospital visiting with a sick relative... this is a prosperous county with conservative folks.
I noticed that the percentage of foreign doctors had increased. Haiti, Africa, Asian,
--
so. here's my question..
what is happening ? why?
is it true in your area?

rr

[Matt In Oklahoma]

Yep it happened here last year or 2. Many of the private practitioners left and went to the hospitals and larger clinics. My Dr did the same and gave the same answer when I asked him why. He also added malpractice insurance costs for the earlier exodus of the others. A specialist we used for a family member did the same citing insurance. There are almost none left out here just the hospital owned clinics and the Drs and PAs are good but the billing side stinks and you have to watch them like a hawk cause they will misfile and cost you a ton. They records sides stink too cause they always ask like we have never been there to any of the 3 we go to. I know I don't go but maybe once every 2 years but the rest of my clan sure stays in there so in the days of computers there is no reason not to have records!
Anyway it's happening just like they want it to

[Patriotic Sheepdog]

Hospitals have been buying up doctor practices over the last few years here. Not sure why in all cases, but to the ones I've talked with it is because of the unknown with Obummercare. The docs would rather sell, make a profit, bank it and become an employee. If things get really bad, they have money in the bank, no overhead, no biz bills and just personal debts if they haven't paid those off yet. No headaches, set hours, set weekends, set vacation, set paid sick leave. Maybe they won't make as much money per year, but money isn't everything in today's assault on healthcare. If things get too bad, they just hang up their stethoscope and dissolve into society. For the most part, doctors are leaning more towards the conservative side. We in healthcare, that have been doing it for a while, can see where things have been heading for the last several years. Where we are heading now may just be what causes many providers to retire. So let's see what happens when 30-40% of providers retire while we add more patients to the system. Now, many would say we aren't adding any to the system as ANY person here in America has access to healthcare, especially life saving care. But, this will add 10-30 million patients who now will want joint replacements, ENT care, every sniffle treated, a Rx cream for every little rash or acne bump, etc. The non-emergency care offices will see a jump in patients and get paid significantly less. Some of our charges are expected to decrease 50%+. So don't be surprised if you were used to walking into your doctor with 5 or 6 complaints and they say, I'll see you for two and you can come back for the others some other time. So that is why some are selling out to hospitals.....

Sorry for my rant, hope that answers some of your questions.


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[rockriver]

we do have a heavy duty monopolizing hospital in this area that has many clinics and has been putting pressure on the independent doctors... that may be part of the formula...
rr

[jimmycthemd]

As far as the reason, I'll deferr to Patriot Sheepdog. As far as the hospitals gobbling up clinics and other specialized practices, that's widly prevalent. I manage hospital systems throughout the south east. Most of the hospitals have been buying generic clinics as well as cancer treatment centers, etc.. I don't know the underlying reasons, but it is happening.

[RobertJ]

Some of The Offices I deliver to have shut down with the Doc "Retiring" early/selling off practice. Others are closing their practice and joining health groups owned by hospitals or conglomerants... they see the writing on the walls.

[Nativetribe]

My general practitioner has been our family doctor since I was a kid. He was also my kids pediatrician. He told us a few months ago that he will be selling his practice. In a small town there were lots of rumors as to why he was selling, so I had to ask why after so many years he was making such a drastic change. His answer was one word.....Obamacare.


I'd rather live one day as a lion than one thousand years as a lamb.

[1Admin]

I suspect more than a few are looking at other options, retiring early, making a conscience statement regarding whats going on, etc.

Guessing the only ones that "win" in this mess- OTHER THAN THE GUBMINT- is the insurance companies??

[Nativetribe]

I believe the insurance companies are definitely winning. It's ridiculous what I'm paying in premiums, not to mention my deductible. My wife asked why we don't just drop our insurance and save our premiums, but all it would take is one hospital visit to rack up a $100,000 medical bill which would take me forever to pay off.

In the state of Ga, doctors are required by law to have a minimum malpractice policy of one MILLION dollars. That's just malpractice. A finance instructor once told me never to trust insurance companies. He said they are not your good neighbor and you are not in good hands!


I'd rather live one day as a lion than one thousand years as a lamb.

[rockriver]

native,
yep, I used to work in the insurance business.
after a few years of hearing everyone talk about how bad the insurance companies were..
(and there was some truth in what was sometimes said)
I came up with the following.

"sir, what i'd suggest is that you get together with some other folks, put some money up and
charge just slightly less than the "good neighbor" insurance folks.
everyone will want insurance with your company. you'll be able to pick and choose your customers.
take only the best ones and you and your other investors will get filthy rich while providing a good service to
the community/state/nation."
this is what competition and capitalism is all about...
call your finance instructor, and invite him to join you in getting rich... he will know lots of folks that want to invest
in a profitable new company.

good luck!
rr

[Nativetribe]

That's great to know. I'm glad there are some good guys out there. I'm not interested in getting rich, but support capitalism 100%. I just don't get that warm fuzzy feeling that I'm taken care of every time I see how much is deducted from my check in Insurance premiums.


I'd rather live one day as a lion than one thousand years as a lamb.

[Patriotic Sheepdog]

I was just asked by a patient yesterday if I would come and speak at the Student Medical Society. I have thirty minutes to an hour to talk next Thursday...hmm, what to say, so many things in such a short time. I want to leave politics out, but that will be really hard for me to do. I've been treating patients for a long time and have seen too many changes. Most are pre-med, but some are pre-vet. The pre-vet ones are probably the smarter ones as it looks now. I'd rather be bitten by a dog then a snake (politician).


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[Tackleberry]

As far as the reason, I'll deferr to Patriot Sheepdog. As far as the hospitals gobbling up clinics and other specialized practices, that's widly prevalent. I manage hospital systems throughout the south east. Most of the hospitals have been buying generic clinics as well as cancer treatment centers, etc.. I don't know the underlying reasons, but it is happening.

My guess is the larger hospitals are buying the practices more for the patients than for the doctors, clinics, or centers. It's kinda like banking industry in the 1990s to early 2001. Banks were acquiring other banks for their credit card customers because the market was already over-saturated with cardholders so the only way to "grow" their credit card portfolios was to acquire other banks with existing credit card portfolios. The acquisition costs of buying an existing portfolio were much cheaper than the costs of acquiring cardholders one at a time. We're headed towards a single payer system and those hospitals with large patient lists will have good leverage to be the only "approved medical provider" for the single payer system.

At least that's how I see it happening.