I was surprised by the poll results as I figured the results would be the opposite. The question might be better asked "As a physician would you want to open your own hospital?" I'm not an MD but I would almost certainly guess the numbers would indicate a lack of interest in doing so. As health systems attempt to migrate to value based care and promoting wellness, their bills are still largely paid by treating those underlying illnesses. I think we need an entirely separate healthcare delivery mechanism focused exclusively the prevention and management of chronic conditions- something which a current FFS model makes challenging. How we triage patients who need this care coordination will need to be completely reengineered to layer in technology AND care management to accomplish this. Enabling IoT and highly insightful AI delivered by engaged clinical teams will have the biggest impact. People keep people out of the hospital.
P.Klehn - 2 years ago
The primary reasons that there are federal regulations on physician ownership of hospitals is our government's attempt to control healthcare costs by preventing self-serving patient referral patterns and/or agreements that may not be in the best interest of the patient. While that sounds like an altruistic and appropriate reason for the regulations that limit physician ownership and referral patterns, healthcare costs have continued to skyrocket even with these regulations. The responsibility of a physician to provide appropriate care remains the same ethically, practically, and legally regardless of a physician's ownership in a clinic, hospital, pharmaceutical, DME, or any other healthcare related entity. Therefore, why do we continue to restrict physician ownership in these enterprises? Physicians are the subject matter experts for the services, relationships, and/or products that these enterprises provide. Physicians, just like any other profession, should have the opportunity to benefit from their knowledge, expertise, and leadership. The businesses that they may choose to own should also be subject to the same risks and rewards that any other professional experiences when he/she ventures into the ownership and operation of a business within their field of expertise.
M. Fernández - 2 years ago
I worked in one in early 80s. The physicians had no clue how to run a business. They had no understanding of patient care beyond what MDs do.
I was surprised by the poll results as I figured the results would be the opposite. The question might be better asked "As a physician would you want to open your own hospital?" I'm not an MD but I would almost certainly guess the numbers would indicate a lack of interest in doing so. As health systems attempt to migrate to value based care and promoting wellness, their bills are still largely paid by treating those underlying illnesses. I think we need an entirely separate healthcare delivery mechanism focused exclusively the prevention and management of chronic conditions- something which a current FFS model makes challenging. How we triage patients who need this care coordination will need to be completely reengineered to layer in technology AND care management to accomplish this. Enabling IoT and highly insightful AI delivered by engaged clinical teams will have the biggest impact. People keep people out of the hospital.
The primary reasons that there are federal regulations on physician ownership of hospitals is our government's attempt to control healthcare costs by preventing self-serving patient referral patterns and/or agreements that may not be in the best interest of the patient. While that sounds like an altruistic and appropriate reason for the regulations that limit physician ownership and referral patterns, healthcare costs have continued to skyrocket even with these regulations. The responsibility of a physician to provide appropriate care remains the same ethically, practically, and legally regardless of a physician's ownership in a clinic, hospital, pharmaceutical, DME, or any other healthcare related entity. Therefore, why do we continue to restrict physician ownership in these enterprises? Physicians are the subject matter experts for the services, relationships, and/or products that these enterprises provide. Physicians, just like any other profession, should have the opportunity to benefit from their knowledge, expertise, and leadership. The businesses that they may choose to own should also be subject to the same risks and rewards that any other professional experiences when he/she ventures into the ownership and operation of a business within their field of expertise.
I worked in one in early 80s. The physicians had no clue how to run a business. They had no understanding of patient care beyond what MDs do.