Abstract
BACKGROUND: We sought to determine the willingness of academic physicians to accept strategies to contain institutional malpractice costs. METHODS: We surveyed all 270 Department of Medicine physicians at a large academic center. Respondents were asked about their knowledge regarding malpractice premiums, willingness to reduce patient-care activities and accept decreases in compensation. RESULTS: The response rate was 80%. Respondents estimated the annual increase in malpractice premiums from 2004 to 2005 to be 29%. The true increase was 28% (P = 0.55). Almost all opposed eliminating patient care (95%) or providing patient care every other year at double effort and withdrawing from patient care on alternate years (97%). Seventy percent would limit their clinical procedures. Most physicians opposed salary reduction (97%) or decreases in fringe benefits (99%). CONCLUSIONS: Few academic physicians are willing to limit patient care or accept decreases in compensation to recoup institutional malpractice costs.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 1334-1336 |
Number of pages | 3 |
Journal | Southern medical journal |
Volume | 99 |
Issue number | 12 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Dec 2006 |
Keywords
- Academic medical centers
- Medical malpractice
- Physician compensation
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- General Medicine