|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
This morning I was sickened to hear a particular patient’s story. A young 27-year-old new patient came in to my office for evaluation of a “foot deformity”. He had a late stage adult acquired flatfoot deformity that had been present for many years. He had been to several different physicians over the years (the flatfoot started as a child and worsened with time). It seems no one was able to help him, and his pain had become so severe it affected his daily life. He’d been having trouble walking long distances and worked a rather physical job but with severe pain.
|
|
|
As I mentioned, several physicians tried to help him nonsurgically thus far. It is unfortunate in itself that no one has been successful, but what is repulsive is this patient’s interaction with the last physician who “treated” him. After examination, radiographs, and an MRI the last doctor told the patient he needed surgery, but because the patient had insurance that wouldn’t pay the doctor “what he was worth” (patient’s words), he would not do the surgery. The patient should live with it or find someone else to treat him.
|
|
|
Yes, the doctor actually said this to the patient.
|
|
|
To anyone who thinks this philosophy is permissible, then my comment to you is: This attitude makes me sick.
|
|
|
|
|
I understand the need to make money in a medical practice. We have to make some profit or we’ll be bankrupt and won’t be able to help anyone. I understand the desire for efficiency and not wasting time. It’s understandable to be frustrated over the ever-declining reimbursement for the work physicians do. I also understand a surgeon’s discomfort doing a particular surgical procedure. It’s legitimate to refer patients to someone better able to take care of a disorder than we are.
|
|
|
However, it’s not legitimate to make medical decisions based purely on insurance reimbursement. Our job as physicians is to provide the best care for our patients to the best of our abilities. We have an ethical responsibility.
|
|
|
This is also true for the converse of the situation I presented. Let’s take a hypothetical yet likely common podiatric situation. You’re seeing a patient with a diagnosis of plantar fasciitis. Her insurance has authorized any treatment including night splints, orthoses, heel injections, and the office visit. Do you give all of these treatments at one time? Unless this is your usual and customary treatment for all plantar fasciitis patients, it would be unethical to maximize the billing in this manner. Just because you are allowed to do something doesn’t mean you need to do that thing.
|
|
|
|
|
Patients are not little piggy banks for you to open up and take their money. Nor should physicians ignore patients with emptier piggy banks.
|
|
|
I have two questions for you...
-
Do you use the golden rule when treating patients? Do you treat your patients as you would want to be treated?
-
Why are you a doctor? What is your primary reason? Is it to help heal others or is it to make money?
|
|
|
If the answer to question 1 is “no” and/or the answer to question 2 is “to make money”, then you’re a physician for the wrong reason. In fact, you’re not really a physician – you’re a business person. And in the mind of this doctor, that’s an insult. Business men and women, go find another way to make money and leave the patient care to the rest of us.
|
|
|
Get a steady stream of all the NEW PRESENT Podiatry eLearning by
becoming our Facebook Fan.
Effective eLearning and a Colleague Network await you.
|
|
This ezine was
made possible through the support of our sponsors:
Grand Sponsor
Major Sponsor
|
|
