In early 2007 Partners kicked the Beverly doctors out of its network. It said that because the local hospital was referring some patients needing advanced care to non-Partners hospitals, it could no longer ensure quality. The administrators said they weren't being disloyal and only turned to other hospitals for help on tough cases when Partners' teaching hospitals wouldn't.Read it. All of it. This battle is coming to a metropolitan area near you.
Some members of the Beverly medical staff saw a different motivation for Partners' action. They believe Beverly Hospital was getting in the way of Partners' expansion.
Never mind that Massachusetts can't pay its healthcare bill.
-Wes
Wes,
ReplyDeleteVery timely post. Any more proof that medicine has become a buisness run by buisness people? But you know what? Buisness people can't legally practice medicine, so it is our own fault for turning over the reins of these big hospital systems to people who thrive on power and money.
By the way, do you know of any similar examples in the Chicago area?