Will Hospital Employment Lead to Physician Strikes?

Hospital-employment means higher reimbursements and more stable schedules for doctors, but it also could lead to the creation of physician labor unions, according to The Wall Street Journal.

With an employed status comes the right to collective bargaining, wrote David J. Leffell, a practicing physician and former CEO of the Yale Medical Group.

Physicians provide a service that can't be outsourced, according to Leffell, and as service workers they can exercise the right to strike to help negotiate staffing, benefits and patient care issues.

The rise of unionized physicians would put more pressure on hospitals already facing strike threats from nursing unions-which, if carried out, lead to extra costs for temporary nurses and added security, as well as patient care disruptions. 

Moreover, it's already gotten easier for healthcare workers to unionize, after a decision in the "Specialty Healthcare" case was overturned in August 2011 and determined that a group of nursing assistants at an Alabama facility could form their own bargaining unit without other types of nursing home staff.

And while the move from private to hospital-owned practices makes it easier to regulate and monitor physicians, Leffell pointed out it may jeopardize access to care: "Office closed, doctors on strike."


Read the full article in The Wall Street Journal, or click here:
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887323375204578270401138739978.html

Physician Job Search: How to Interview to get Your Dream Job

When physician's submit their CV for a prospective job opportunity, the CV speaks for itself and is crucial in getting to the next stage of the interview process.  However, once the interview process starts and physician's visit the facility and meet with the other physicians, interview skills, practical (not just clinical) knowledge, and personality really come in to play to get the job offer and move to contract negotiation.

Coming across as a team player, particularly for the current hospital-employed trending marketplace, is a very important factor in the interview process.  The site visit is an exploratory process for the physician to help determine if this may be a good fit, but it is also an interview and it's important not to forget it is an opportunity to showcase not only the physician's training and experience, but also his or her personality and compatibility.

A CV is a good way to get the process started, but the physician still needs to interview and prove they are not only a good clinical fit for the opportunity, but also have the right dynamic to fit in to the current group.

American Medical News has a recent article on the importance of the interview and also the incoming physician coming across as a team player.  Read the full article by clicking here:

http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2013/01/28/bisa0128.htm?utm_source=nwltr&utm_medium=heds-txt&utm_campaign=20130128

Tips for Physicians When Joining a New Practice

Physician's Practice has published an article on the do's and don'ts for physicians joining new practices from medical practice consultants and etiquette experts.

They have compiled a list of 10 do's and 10 don'ts for physicians joining a new medical practice.  They have asked medical practice consultants and etiquette experts to share their top recommendations for starting off on the right foot.

Read the full article by clicking here:

http://www.physicianspractice.com/blog/tips-doctors-when-joining-new-practice?GUID=98C7CA21-2AF6-465B-A27F-FC956DFC383F&rememberme=1&ts=25012013
 

Hospital Employment Contracts: Renegotiate After Term Expiration

With the increasing trend of hospital employment many physicians are now on a salary with their associated hospital.  However once the term ends they still have negotiating power when considering re-signing.

American Medical News has just published an article with 5-steps to re-negotiate a contract before it expires to continue to make a long-term sustainable employment contract.  The article suggests these 5 tips to negotiate your new physician employment contract:

1. Know your renewal date

2. Use data to support your request

3. Consider how pay is structured

4. Ask about pay for nonclinical duties

5. Bring up retirement and other personal matters

Just because many physicians are now hospital employed doesn't mean they no longer have any negotiation power.

Read the full article in American Medical News, or click here:
http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2013/01/14/bisa0114.htm?utm_source=nwltr&utm_medium=heds-txt&utm_campaign=20130114

Physician Compensation Increase in 2013

With the increase in physicians being hospital employed, most working physicians are receiving a salary.  According to recent reports the average physician's salary should increase by 2.6% in 2013.

The business consulting firm, Hay Group, projects this physician salary increase based on surveys of 1,212 hospitals across the nation.

HealtheCareers, a leading physician job and market assessment site, has published an article on both the expected increase in physician's salaries as well as expectations for Allied Health in 2013.

Read the full article in HealtheCareers, or click here:

http://www.healthecareers.com/article/salary-trend-for-physicians-in-2013/171724?type=email&source=physician-010813

More Competitive Offers for Physicians in 2013

According to an article published today in American Medical News, 2013 is expected to be even more competitive for hospitals looking for physicians.  This means that if physicians are considering new employment opportunities, hospitals will need to be even more competitive to attract top talent.

The most common incentives seeing an increase are signing bonuses and student loan reimbursement  but in this climate with hospital employment at an all-time high, anything is negotiable in physician employment agreements.

With the impending changes in healthcare reform the physician shortage is expected to increase.  Physician retirements, more quality of life work balanced schedules, and an increase in physician demand will provide a competitive environment for physicians seeking employment opportunities.


http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2013/01/07/bisa0107.htm?utm_source=nwltr&utm_medium=heds-txt&utm_campaign=20130107

American Medical News also published an article on how volume-based incentives are dependent more on quality and patient care, as opposed to more volume-driven patient visits exclusively.  Read the full article here:

http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2012/12/31/bise0102.htm?utm_source=nwltr&utm_medium=heds-txt&utm_campaign=20130107

More Physicians in Congress

The healthcare market is very uncertain with all of the pending government changes, most notably healthcare reform and the medicare reimbursement potential changes.  Because of the uncertain environment many physicians are getting in to public service to be a part of changing healthcare for the better from everyone's perspective, including the physician.

After the latest election the House of Representatives currently has 17 physicians and the Senate has 3 physicians.  Getting involved in politics seems to be a way for physicians to voice their concerns for a realistic healthcare climate.

To read backgrounds and agendas for the latest MDs elected in to Congress, click on the link below or read the full article in American Medical News.

There will be 20 physicians in the 113th Congress, including 9 surgeons.  They are:

• Sen. John Barrasso (R-WY); Orthopaedic Surgeon
• Sen. Tom Coburn (R-OK); Family Physician
• Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY); Ophthalmologist
• Rep. Amerish Bera (D-CA)*; Family Physician
• Rep. Dan Benishek (R-MI); General Surgeon
• Rep. Charles Boustany (R-LA); Thoracic Surgeon
• Rep. Paul Broun (R-GA); Family Physician
• Rep. Larry Bucshon (R-IN); Thoracic Surgeon
• Rep. Michael Burgess (R-TX); OB/GYN
• Rep. Bill Cassidy (R-LA); Gastroenterologist
• Del. Donna Christensen (D-VI); Family Physician
• Rep. Scott DesJarlais (R-TN); Family Physician
• Rep. John Fleming (R-LA); Family Physician
• Rep. Phil Gingrey (R-GA); OB/GYN
• Rep. Andy Harris (R-MD); Anesthesiologist
• Rep. Joe Heck (R-NV); Emergency Room Physician
• Rep. Jim McDermott (D-WA); Psychiatrist
• Rep. Tom Price (R-GA); Orthopaedic Surgeon
• Rep. Phil Roe (R-TN); OB/GYN
• Rep. Paul Ruiz (D-CA)*; Emergency Room Physician

http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2013/01/07/gvsa0107.htm?utm_source=nwltr&utm_medium=heds-txt&utm_campaign=20130107