More Doctors Signing Contracts With Hospitals

Merrit, Hawkins & Associates, a national physician search and consulting firm, found that a growing number of hospitals are employing doctors.  "The 2007 Review of Physician Recruiting Incentives," prepared by the consulting firm, found that hospitals have increasingly offered full-time staff positions to doctors and a higher percentage of doctors have accepted.  "Physicians have long prized their independence.  But today they are more willing to exchange independence for the security and convenience of hospital employment," said Joseph Hawkins, chief executive officer of Merrit, Hawkins, & Associates.  According to Hawkins, doctors are accepting employed positions with hospitals in order to avoid the hassles of private practice, which include high medical professional liability insurance premiums and struggles for reimbursement.  Medical professional liability insurance still needs to be carried by doctors employed by hospitals.  However, the costs of carrying the insurance are offset by guaranteed salaries, which usually include a signing bonus.The Boston University School of Medicine (BU) is holding the 23rd Annual Conference on Obstetrics, Gynecology, Perinatal Medicine, Neonatology, and the Law on January 2-6, 2007. The focus of this conference is to teach physicians how to better comprehend the machinations of negligence law, and to develop a complete awareness of the need for anticipatory medical practice and risk management. In addition, BU is holding the 7th Annual Conference on Medical Negligence and Risk Management in Medicine, Surgery, Emergency Medicine, Radiology, and Neurosurgery on January 5-8, 2007. The objective of this conference is to educate and communicate the principles of good medical practice, the expected standards of care, and the established guidelines that are relevant to key specialties in the context of risk management. For more information, visit BU's website at www.bu.edu/cme. (Boston University, 8/31)