Quote:
Originally Posted by ilovetv
Marcus Welby, MD was a fictional television character.
The developer's use of the Welby concept was to convey the goal of paying the physicians an attractive, flat salary so they could hopefully have time enough with the patient to actually learn more about them and their conditions instead of having to see dozens of patients per hour and spending only 3 minutes with them in order to get enough reimbursement from Medicare and insurance to pay the bills of running the practice. Reimbursement is low and going lower, and insurance companies often call "reasonable and customary charges" what Medicare calls reasonable and customary.....and THAT is less than the costs the providers have to pay to keep the place running.
Obviously people are racing to try to get into these practices in TV, thus the length of time to get an appointment.
The good part is that the TV health system is intent upon getting quality primary care doctors, and apparently they are. Any time somebody asks if they like the dr. they have in one of the existing clinics, there are very good reviews of them.
|
And because the physicians are being paid an attractive flat salary, do people believe that there won't be pressure from those higher up on the corporate ladder to see as many patients as possible?
My experience in dealing with and working for big businesses is that the people on the front lines whoa re dealing with the customers are the ones that want to give good service. It's the people above them that don't allow that to happen.
Did I read that every doctor will have "only" 1500 patients? If you do the math and a doctor sees each of his patients once every six months then he has to see 58 patients a week. If he gives each patient a half hour, that will take up 29 hours of a forty hour work week. That doesn't include time for paperwork or reviewing a patient's record ahead of a visit. Many doctors also need to see their patients when they are in a hospital and of course if the patient is having a specific problem, the doc might need to see him more than twice a year. In fact, my doctors sees me every six months.