A hospital where doctors are owners

[Judi Lynn]

Dec. 29, 2005, 9:53PM
A hospital where doctors are owners
Critics fear conflicts of interest possible

By ANNE BELLI
Copyright 2005 Houston Chronicle

Houston Town & County Hospital may look like just another new health care facility.

But when the 99-bed hospital began admitting patients last month, it did so amid statewide, even national controversy over whether such facilities are good for health care.
(snip)

Supporters of physician-owned facilities say the hospitals promote healthy competition, while allowing doctors to do away with bureaucracy and take more control over the treatment of their patients.

Indigent care?
Opponents, however, say such hospitals pose a dangerous conflict of interest by allowing doctors to refer their best-insured, least complicated patients to facilities they own — and personally profit from — leaving the most expensive indigent care to already cash-strapped community hospitals.
(snip/...)

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/business/3555137.html
(Free registration required)

[Sgent]

1. I'm not sure how I feel about

Dr. owned hospitals (self referral could be an issue).

I am convinced though that a non-profit physician directed hospital is probably the best method (ie, the medical staff elects the board of directors).

At least in my experience, putting the leadership and decision making control outside of the doctors purview has resulted in major problems with patient care.

[knitter4democracy]

4. I would agree with that.

Many times, the ones in control are more worried about the endowment and fundraising for some new wing or whatever than they are about safety and patient care.

You know, I'd rather see nurses own hospitals. That would be a good thing--no referral problems, and the people with the most contact with patients running the show.

[Thom Little]

2. This is not something new.

I was born and raised in a town where there was a private hospital owned by a small group of doctors. It sold out to a big corporation about 20 years ago. If there are ethical issues about doctors owning the hospital, there have certainly been chances to address them long before now.

[acmejack]

3. It is a rapidly growing trend, though.

And there is a big argument going on about it here in Austin. And these issues, dated in your mind or not, are indeed the stuff of a real issue down here in Texas. We undoubtedly have a much more provincial (read unfair) method of funding our public hospitals here.

[nashville_brook]

10. actually there's MAJOR issues and INSURANCE companies don't

want any part of it.

[Toucano]

5. C'mon! We all know doctors are GODS, not owners! n/t

[WildClarySage]

6. I would have a big problem giving birth in a hospital

owned by OB/Gyns, that's for sure. All the unnecessary interventions they indicate (and pressure you into doing) during the birth process when they're just attending births- so why should it be different for cardiac, cancer, aids or diabetic patients? Bet there's lots of careful testing and billing going on there.

[NashVegas]

7. The Reason I Support This

The professional class, or at least this portion of it, is fighting to keep itself from being owned by corporations.

[Frances]

8. You have a good point

I lived in a high income area for many years. The best and brightest doctors were leaving the field because of poor pay. One doctor I knew went into administration of a HMO and made big bucks. Two others took salaried research jobs.

I am afraid that the best and brightest minds are no longer going into medicine and that's a shame for all of us, because at some time in our lives most of us need a really good doctor.

[lumpy]

11. Sure, look what happened when

insurance companies took over plans such as Blue Cross.

[nashville_brook]

9. i worked for 2 companies that arranged these doc-owned hospitals

and let me tell you, it's not utopic.

being "doctor-owned" was little more than a rouse. the intent was to buy small community hospitals (<100 beds) and "make them profitable." it might sound like this is about some docs getting together and brainstorming a better way to treat patients -- believe me, in marketing we USED that to the hilt -- but the aim was the same-old-same-old: MAKE them "buy low sell high." oh, and get rid of the fat such as nurses and supplies. "advanced surgical products" would attract patient stream from around the country instead of around the neighborhood.

the company had a handful of hospitals, 2 in Portland Oregon (Woodland Park and Eastmoreland). I'm not sure where the class-action lawsuit is at right now on those.

DON'T BELIEVE THE HYPE