The Responsible Physician: Part III

What does the responsible physician bring to the table? Each physician has an innate belief that his patient’s welfare must come before his own. This healthcare system would have collapsed long ago if this were not the case. The flaw lies in the misalignment of self-interest. To correct it there must be an economic focus through which the diverse interests in healthcare can be resolved.

How do risk-bearing physician owned medical groups provide this focus?

By transferring income incentives from the individual physician to the overall welfare of the group, physicians are freed to concentrate on patient outcomes and the overall fiscal impact of care. By attaching income incentives to these factors the group and therefore the healthcare system will optimize its use of resources. Adoption of electronic medical records as an aide to care and to track trends will be an early priority. The absence of fee-for-service will facilitate the availability of medical expertise without fear of increasing cost. Redundant or excessive testing will be of negative value. Contracts with hospitals and nursing homes will establish internal regulation of their utilization. Groups will redirect their energies toward the development of a program approach to care. By assembling the appropriate expertise for the care of diabetes, hypertension, stroke or any other problem they can concentrate upon and measure both outcomes and cost. By attaching merit income incentives to these programs the whole medical system becomes aligned toward a common end.

Affordable healthcare at a reasonable and justifiable price is a real possibility.

End of Part III; end of article.