Re: Managed care - was Ultrasound Credentialing
From: art fougner, md (evsono@pipeline.com)
Sun Jul 15 10:37:18 2001
steve -
docs here have the same mindset as the mice who've hit upon a brilliant
plan to forestall incursions by their feline enemy - put a bell on the
cat. and just like the mice who realized that someone will surely
actually have to stand up and take the hit, docs here are, for want of a
better term, scared s***less. it seems that the same qualities which
enabled passage through med school, internship, and residency are now
paralyzing action. you and ben franklin have said it best, "we must all
hang together, for assuredly we will all hang separately."
i know others object for various reasons but when i went to albany ny to
speak with legislators, one man's remark rang true. "you guys should
form a union."
just my opinion - i could be wrong.
art
At Sun, 15 Jul 2001, Steve & Eryl Raymond wrote:
>
>To me, not working in the private sector and not in the US, it seems that there
>is so much wrong with this managed care and third party paying system that the
>concept of everybody taking a "strike" from managed care as suggested here makes
>a lot of sense. If everybody did it, and it would take everybody to do it,
>there is no doubt that the system would come to a crashing halt. What seems so
>incredible in addition is that South Africa is rushing headlong to set up a
>system exactly like that in the US. I see advertisements in the journals,
>discussion in the Medical Association and articles in newspapers dealing with
>the problems of co-pays, coding, slow re-imbursements, refusals of payment for
>admission and procedure and I shudder.
>
>When you look at all the different systems considered and/or in action by
>different countries for payment of medical costs it seems to me that the one
>with the most strife is this third party system. The NHS may have its flaws, but
>the dissatisfaction level from the doctors is not matched outside the US.
>Obviously, salary levels can be a source of argument but solving such an
>argument doesn't involve changing the system; and one big plus is the much
>smaller percentage spent on administration both in time and in money.
>
>Just my opinion.
>stray
>
>"art fougner, md" wrote:
>
>> Ira -
>>
>> the one saving grace would be that you would not need quite so many
>> office workers whose job descriptions do not involve any aspect of
>> patient care whatsoever. this is the real hidden cost of managed care.
>>
>> art
>>
>> At Sat, 14 Jul 2001, Ira Bachman, MD wrote:
>> >
>> >It seems like this would be the easy solution...drop all managed care.
>> >That would also give me more free time , as I would only need to go to
>> >my office once or twice a week. Of course I'd have to sell my house, my
>> >"porsche" and any other luxury items I have (like this computer) to make
>> >ends meet....
>> >>Immediately cancel your contract with them, we must send a message
>> >>this is not acceptable.
>> >>
>> >>--
>> >>Paul Prior MD
>>
>> --
>> art fougner, md
>
>--
>
>Dr.S.H. Raymond
>Head of Department of O & G
>Empangeni Hospital
>South Africa 3880
>Phone: (+27) 35-7721111
>Fax: (+27) 35-7922596
>
--
art fougner, md
A series of 1000 cases begins with but a single anecdote.
