Common Problems Faced by Physicians Today

There is truly nothing like being able to help a person when he or she is sick or hurt, or better yet, saving lives. Most physicians are noble, hardworking, and truly dedicated to caring for their patients.

Unfortunately, apart from the advantages of becoming an office- or hospital based physician, there are disadvantages as well. Life as a doctor who works in an office or hospital setting is quite taxing, considering the long, strenuous hours worked, the responsibility at hand, and the overall stress of dealing with managed care and HMOs. Not to mention, as an employed physician of a hospital or clinic, you are likely in a position that is easily “replaceable.”

Specific problems for physicians who are employed by a hospital, clinic, or are involved in a group practice, include the following:

1.) Managed Care/HMOs. Physicians in office or hospital settings are expected to follow managed care policies, which critics say has contributed to higher health care costs, increased the number of uninsured citizens, and has applied downward pressure on quality.

2.) High Overhead. With standard medical practices, physicians are faced with pricey long-term leases, utility bills, employee insurance, and expensive equipment. Office-based physicians are only making a 20 to 25% net profit, whereas with medical house calls, they can keep overhead low and make a 55 to 65% net profit.

3.) Low Reimbursement Rates.

4.) No Free Time. When they are not working an average of 50 or more hours per week, office-based physicians are almost always on call. They see an average of 25 to 35 patients per day, which just barely covers expenses.

5.) No Flexibility.

6.) High Malpractice Premiums. Malpractice for an office-based family practitioner, internal medicine, or generalist can escalate as high as $18 to $20k per year based on a high to medium sized patient base.

7.) High competition.

With such problems facing physicians, who for the most part are only trying to do their jobs in helping people, there has to be a more viable alternative out there…

And there is…medical house call practices. There are a number of excellent reasons why a physician should start their own medical house call practice.

• Freedom from HMOs and Managed Care Plans
• Significant reduction of overhead
• Increased reimbursement rates
• Ability to better assist the escalating senior population
• More free time and higher income
• Schedule flexibility
• Lower malpractice premiums
• Ability to utilize medical house calls as an expansion to current office-based practices
• Gaining a more competitive edge
• Increased marketing appeal and value to the patient