White coats should not have union labels

Article Abstract:

Medical residents don't need to join a union to improve their work conditions. In November, 1999, the National Labor Relations Board reversed a 1976 ruling and will now allow medical residents to join unions. Unionizing doctors will create an adversarial relationship between doctors and the hospitals that employ them. It may also destroy professionalism. Most unions use strikes to force improvements in work conditions. This could have a serious impact on patient care. All directors of residency programs and hospital administrators need to ensure that appropriate channels exist for residents to air their grievances.

Labor relations, Ethical aspects, Residents (Medicine), Collective bargaining

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Auditing the Medicare-billing practices of teaching physicians - welcome accountability, unfair approach

Article Abstract:

The US Office of the Inspector General's (OIG) Physicians at Teaching Hospitals (PATH) program needs to be changed. Under this program, the OIG audits the billing practices of hospitals that receive Medicare funds. It was begun to prevent overbilling for services or billing for services that were never provided. However, the OIG has turned the audit into an intimidating process, has applied many standards retroactively, and has assessed severe punitive fines. Many physicians agree that they must be held accountable, but they also believe the audit can be done more fairly.

Analysis, Investigations, Prevention, Auditing, Medicare fraud, United States. Department of Health and Human Services. Office of Inspector General

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The future of primary care medicine

Article Abstract:

Studies are beginning to suggest that the country may soon be facing an overall shortage of physicians, and market signals suggest that, in some regions, shortages may already exists in some specialties. Unless changes are made - the practice of primary care medicine seems destined to become the province of nurses and other nonphysician health care professionals.

Management dynamics, HEALTH SERVICES, Offices of All Other Miscellaneous Health Practitioners, Offices of health practitioners, not elsewhere classified, Offices & clinics of medical doctors, Physicians & Surgeons, Nurses, Offices of Physicians (except Mental Health Specialists), Management, Health care industry, Practice, Physicians, Company business management

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