The Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education recently proposed new standards for medical resident work hours. Do you support or oppose the proposed standards?
Support: 28 (51.85%) Oppose: 26 (48.15%)
Total votes: 54 July 12-July 26, 2010
Question:
The Association of American Medical Colleges released recommended ethics guidelines aimed at preventing physicians' business relationships from exerting undo influence on patient care. Should teaching hospitals adopt the guidelines?
Yes: 45 (86.54%) No: 7 (13.46%)
Total votes: 52 June 21-July 12, 2010
Question:
The Federal Trade Commission recently delayed the enforcement of its "red flags" rule until Dec. 31. Do you think the "red flags" rule should apply to physician group practices that offer credit or payment plans to patients?
Yes: 26 (21.67%) No: 82 (68.33%) Depends on the size of the practice: 12 (10%)
Total votes: 120 June 7-21, 2010
Question:
A number of websites allow patients to rate and post comments about their physicians online for other patients to read. What do you think about such online physician-rating services? Do such websites provide useful information to patients?
Some physicians and physician groups are taking part in bundled payment demonstration projects where they receive one lump sum for all the components of a single episode of patient care. How do you think physicians will fare financially? Will they...
... get paid more? 9 (8.04%) ... get paid less? 76 (67.86%) ... get paid about the same? 27 (24.11%)
Total votes: 112 May 10-24, 2010
Question:
Physicians and hospitals are looking at co-management arrangements as an alternative to practice acquisitions and joint ventures as a way to work together to provide cost-effective, high-quality care. What about your organization?
... participating in a co-management arrangement? 13 (28.89%) ... putting together a co-management arrangement? 3 (6.67%) ... considering a co-management arrangement? 9 (20%) ... not considering a co-management arrangement now? 12 (26.67%) ... not and never will consider co-management? 8 (17.78%)
Total votes: 45 April 26, 2010-May 10, 2010
Question:
As an increasing number of physicians choose to work as employees rather than independent practitioners, the number of physicians eligible to join unions is increasing. Do you think there will be a rise in the number of unionized doctors?
What effect will the physician self-referral provisions of the newly enacted Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act have on physician-owned hospitals? What do you think?
No effect; facilities will grow: 6 votes (12%) Slow growth in a number of facilities: 10 votes (20%) Freeze the number of facilities: 10 votes (20%) Reduce the number of facilities: 18 votes (36%) Eliminate all facilities: 6 votes (12%)
Total votes: 50 March 22-April 12, 2010
Question:
A new report from the Lucian Leape Institute says U.S. medical schools are doing an inadequate job of teaching patient-safety techniques to medical students. What do you think? Are medical schools ...
… doing a good job of teaching patient safety?: 11 votes (12%) … doing a fair job of teaching patient safety?: 24 votes (26%) … doing a poor job of teaching patient safety?: 57 votes (62%)
Total votes: 42 March 8-22, 2010
Question:
Some healthcare IT vendors are offering physician practices low- or no-interest financing to buy IT systems, which they guarantee will qualify for funding under the economic stimulus law. Would your practice be willing to buy under such a deal?
The medical benefits of disease screening have come under increased scrutiny as the quantity and cost of screening continue to rise. What do you think about the amount of disease screening being done on patients?
There's too much disease screening: 28 votes (31%) There's too little disease screening: 47 votes (52%) There's just the right amount of disease screening: 15 votes (17%)
Total votes: 90 Jan. 25-Feb. 22, 2010
Question:
Proposed accreditation standards would allow a hospital's organized medical staff and medical executive committee to propose medical staff bylaw changes directly to the hospital’s governing board. Do you support or oppose the proposed standards?
How do you think physician-owned healthcare businesses will perform financially in 2010?
Better than 2009: 45 votes (28.5%) About the same as 2009: 38 votes (24%) Worse than 2009: 63 votes (40%) Not sure: 12 votes (7.5%)
Total votes: 158 Dec. 28, 2009-Jan. 11, 2010
Question:
2009 will be remembered as a year filled with big healthcare business and policy stories affecting physician-executives. Which one do you think was the biggest?
Battle over physician ownership of hospitals: 20 votes (6.5%) Bundled-payment reimbursement projects: 31 votes (10%) Comparative-effectiveness research initiative: 13 votes (4%) Federal support of health information technology: 53 votes (17%) Growing physician shortage: 30 votes (10%) Medical home push: 13 votes (4%) Medicare physician payment reform: 102 votes (33%) Scrutiny of doctor-supplier business arrangements: 15 votes (5%) Stepped-up fraud enforcement efforts: 21 votes (7%) UnitedHealth Group settlement over fee database: 11 votes (3.5%)
Total votes: 309 Dec. 14-28, 2009
Question:
A new study says nearly 9% of surgeons who responded to a recent survey said they made a major medical error in the past three months. What do you think is the leading cause of medical mistakes by surgeons?
Lapse in judgment: 9 votes (6.87%) A system issue: 31 votes (23.66%) Degree of stress or burnout: 16 votes (12.21%) Lapse in concentration: 32 votes (24.43%) Degree of fatigue: 24 votes (18.32%) Lack of knowledge: 7 votes (5.34%) Other reasons: 12 votes (9.16%)
Total votes: 131 Nov. 23-Dec. 14, 2009
Question:
A new study says the length of time physicians are spending with patients during routine office visits is increasing. How would you describe the amount of time your physician organization is spending on office visits with patients now vs. a year ago?
More time per visit: 71 votes (36%) Less time per visit: 41 votes (21%) About the same amount of time per visit: 86 votes (43%)
Total votes: 198 Nov. 9-23, 2009
Question:
Do you think the new FAIR Health database being developed to track out-of-network rates paid by private insurers to physicians will lead to higher payments to doctors for their services?
Would you support the pending healthcare reform legislation in Congress without the inclusion of tort reform and an accompanying Medicare physician payment fix?
Do you think HHS' national healthcare information technology extension program will succeed in raising the IT adoption rates at small and rural medical group practices?
Does your medical group practice or other medical facility that provides patient care participate in any pay-for-performance programs sponsored by either a private or public health insurer?
Yes: 34 votes (65.5%) No, not in the foreseeable future: 19 votes (21%) No, but expect to soon: 8 votes (15.5%)
Total votes: 52 Aug. 24-Sept. 14, 2009
Question:
Should medical-device makers, drugmakers and other commercial medical supply companies be allowed to fund continuing medical-education programs for docs?
Yes: 236 votes (50%) No: 101 votes (21%) Under certain circumstances: 136 votes (29%)
Total votes: 473 Aug. 10-24, 2009
Question:
How has the boom in retail clinics affected the financial performance of your practice, facility or organization?
Hurt us financially: 16 votes (35.5%) Helped us financially: 3 votes (6.5%) Had no effect on us financially: 26 votes (58%)
Total votes: 45 July 27-Aug. 10, 2009
Question:
What do you think about the future of hospital acquisitions of physician practices? Over the next year, do you think such acquisitions will:
Increase: 260 votes (78%) Decrease: 30 votes (9%) Stay about the same: 42 votes (13%)
Total votes: 129 July 13-27, 2009
Question:
Do you think Congress will pass a Medicare physician payment reform bill this year?
How has the current economic crisis affected patient volume at your healthcare organization?
Lowered patient volume: 179 votes (71.5%) Raised patient volume: 22 votes (9%) Had no effect on patient volume: 49 votes (19.5%)
Total votes: 250 June 8-22, 2009
Question:
A new report from Public Citizen's Health Research Group accuses hospitals of deliberately underreporting physician disciplinary actions to the federal National Practitioner Data Bank. Do you believe that hospitals underreport such actions?
Yes: 34 votes (62%) No: 21 votes (38%)
Total votes: 55 May 26-June 8, 2009
Question:
Which branch of medicine is experiencing the greatest physician shortage?
An IOM report warning of the growing influence of medical device/supply companies offered 16 recommendations to curb that influence, including limits and prohibitions on gifts and funding from companies to doctors. What effect will the report have?
Reduce such influence: 18 votes (43%) Have no effect on such influence: 23 votes (55%) Increase such influence: 1 vote (2%)
Total votes: 42 April 27-May 11, 2009
Question:
An FTC opinion outlines the extent to which independent doctors can clinically integrate their practices and jointly negotiate with insurers without violating antitrust laws. What effect will it have on independent practice associations and insurers?
More joint negotiations by IPAs with insurers: 59 votes (75.5%) Less joint negotiations by IPAs with insurers: 9 votes (11.5%) No effect on joint negotiations with insurers: 10 votes (13%)
Total votes: 78 April 13-27, 2009
Question:
The recent stimulus act could mean up to $38 billion in financial support for healthcare providers who adopt information technology and put it to "meaningful" use. Does your healthcare organization intend to apply for its share of stimulus money?
Should physician practices require patients to sign agreements of mutual privacy that bar patients from posting comments or ratings of the practices online?
Yes: 90 votes (21%) No: 288 votes (67%) Under certain conditions: 55 votes (12%)
Total votes: 433 March 9-23, 2009
Question:
A permanent injunction bars an Ark. system from using an economic credentialing policy to deny privileges to any doc who owns a competing facility. Should hospitals be able to deny for financial reasons privileges to competing facilities' doc owners?
Yes: 14 votes (22%) No: 36 votes (56%) Under certain conditions: 14 votes (22%)
Total votes: 64 Feb. 23-March 9, 2009
Question:
The $787 billion stimulus bill signed into law on Feb. 17 by President Barack Obama includes $1.1 billion in funding for so-called "comparative effectiveness" research. How do you think that research ultimately will affect physicians financially?
Help financially: 167 votes (26%) Hurt financially: 312 votes (49%) Have no financial effect: 160 votes (25%)
Total votes: 639 Feb. 9-23, 2009
Question:
Memorial Hermann agreed to pay $700,000 to settle allegations by the Texas attorney general that the system pressured insurers not to do business with a competing doctor-owned hospital. What effect do you think the settlement will have? Will it:
Encourage physician ownership of hospitals: 64 votes (31%) Discourage physician ownership of hospitals: 51 votes (24%) Have no effect on physician ownership of hospitals: 95 votes (45%)
Total votes: 210 Jan. 26-Feb. 9 2009
Question:
The two UnitedHealth Group settlements will lead to the creation of an independent database to track physicians' usual and customary fees. Do you think the new database will lead to higher reimbursement rates paid by insurers for physician services?
How do you think physician-owned healthcare businesses will perform financially in 2009?
Better than 2008?: 4 votes (10%) About the same as 2008?: 5 votes (12.5%) Worse than 2008?: 29 votes (72.5%) Not sure?: 2 votes (5%)
Total votes: 40 Dec. 22, 2008-Jan. 12, 2009
Question:
With patients footing more of their own healthcare bills, some physician practices have been getting more creative and aggressive with their billing and collection practices. How have your billing and collection practices been affected by the trend?
Less creative and aggressive: 2 votes (5%) No changes: 16 votes (39%) More creative and aggressive: 23 votes (56%)
Total votes: 41 Dec. 8-22, 2008
Question:
A new study says reimbursement delays from state Medicaid programs discourage physician practices from accepting new Medicaid patients. How do slow Medicaid payments affect your practice’s willingness to treat new Medicaid patients?
Encourages acceptance of new Medicaid patients: 1 vote (5.5%) No effect on acceptance of new Medicaid patients: 0 votes (0%) Discourages acceptance of new Medicaid patients?: 17 votes (94.5%)
Total votes: 18 Nov. 17-Dec. 8, 2008
Question:
Physician groups are at odds with other groups over when to adopt the ICD-10 coding system. Physician groups want more time for adoption, while others are seeking a quicker timetable. When do you think HHS should mandate the use of ICD-10?
By Oct. 1, 2011: 10 votes (32%) By Oct. 1, 2012: 3 votes (10%) By Oct. 1, 2013: 3 votes (10%) Sometime after Oct. 1, 2013: 15 votes (48%)
Total votes: 31 Nov. 3-17, 2008
Question:
This issue profiles a practice in Tennessee that’s attempting to transform into a recognized “medical home” as defined by the National Committee for Quality Assurance. Does your group practice intend to pursue a medical home designation?
A recent report states that many physicians fail to provide patients with financial information needed to help cope with high-deductible health plans and HSAs. Is it a physician's responsibility to provide that financial information to patients?
The number of international medical graduates enrolled in U.S. medical schools has increased 27% over the past decade. How will the growth in medical students from other countries affect the anticipated physician shortage in the U.S.?
Reduce the shortage: 16 votes (52%) Have no effect on the shortage: 10 votes (32%) Increase the shortage: 5 votes (16%)
Total votes: 31 Sept. 22-Oct. 6, 2008
Question:
A judge dismissed an antitrust lawsuit filed by a cardiology group against a hospital system and insurer, which the doctors accused of conspiring to monopolize cardiology services. How will the ruling affect doc ownership of specialty hospitals?
Discourage physician ownership: 13 votes (52%) Encourage physician ownership: 7 votes (28%) Have no effect on physician ownership: 5 votes (20%)
Total votes: 32 Sept. 8-22, 2008
Question:
This issue's feature story profiles physician entrepreneurs who have developed and are marketing their own IT systems. As a doctor or someone who manages doctors, would you be more or less likely to use an IT system if it was designed by a physician?
More likely: 15 votes (47%) Less likely: 4 votes (12%) Doesn't matter: 13 votes (41%)
Total votes: 32 Aug. 25-Sept. 8, 2008
Question:
An HHS advisory opinion on gain-sharing agreements between hospitals and doctors said the agreement in question was legally improper. But, HHS said it would not impose sanctions on the providers involved. Who benefits most from gain-sharing deals?
How does physician ownership of medical services and facilities affect the use of those services and facilities? Does it ...
Increase utilization: 27 votes (68%) Have no effect on utilization: 11 votes (26%) Decrease utilization: 2 votes (5%)
Total votes: 40 July 21-Aug. 11, 2008
Question:
Physician compensation varies widely by specialty, although most specialties enjoyed increases this year. What direction will physician compensation head in 2009? Will it ...
Should hospitals or other healthcare facilities be allowed to bar or restrict the staff privileges of physicians solely because they own or operate competing hospitals, ambulatory surgery centers or other facilities or services?
In 2009, Joint Commission-accredited hospitals will be required to have a code of conduct that defines acceptable and inappropriate physician behavior-aimed at reducing "disruptive behavior" by doctors. Do you think such a standard will be effective?
An AAMC report says that academic medical centers should speed the adoption of policies that strictly limit to physicians gifts that could create conflicts of interest or undermine professional standards. Do you agree?
Yes: 52 votes (73%) No: 19 votes (27%)
Total votes: 71 May 5-May 19, 2008
Question:
A number of studies and reports have concluded that a physician shortage exists and will get worse in the coming decade. What factor is contributing most to that growing shortage?
Early retirement: 1 vote (1.5%) Government regulation: 11 votes (17%) Inadequate compensation/reimbursement: 34 votes (51.5%) Job stress: 8 votes (12%) Lack of opportunity: 0 votes (0%) Other career choices: 1 vote (1.5%) Practice limits/guidelines: 2 votes (3%) Work hours: 1 vote (1.5%) Workload: 2 votes (3%) Other: 6 votes (9%)
Total votes: 66 April 21-May 5, 2008
Question:
Do physicians possess the business acumen to successfully own and operate their own Medicare HMOs?
Yes: 24 votes (32%) No: 27 votes (36%) Depends on the market: 24 votes (32%)
Total votes: 75 April 7-21, 2008
Question:
Are physician-executives becoming a more powerful and influential force to effect positive change in the nation's healthcare delivery system?
They are becoming more powerful and influential: 78 votes (61%) Their power and influence are unchanged: 29 vote (23%) They are becoming less powerful and influential: 20 votes (16%)
Total votes: 127 March 24-April 7, 2008
Question:
Health insurers are lobbying the government to mandate that physician-owned practices electronically prescribe medication as a requirement of Medicare and Medicaid program participation. Do you support or oppose a federal e-prescribing mandate?
President Bush's fiscal 2009 budget proposal calls for limits on Medicare payment increases to ambulatory surgery centers that would reduce budgeted spending on ASCs by $450 million over five years. What do you think Congress will do?
Include the proposed Medicare ASC spending cuts: 15 votes (48.5%) Increase the proposed Medicare ASC spending cuts: 1 vote (3%) Decrease the proposed Medicare ASC spending cuts: 15 votes (48.5%)
Total votes: 31 Feb. 19-March 10, 2008
Question:
Do you think health insurers manipulate physicians' "usual, customary and reasonable" charge data to artificially lower payments to physicians and physician-owned practices and facilities?
When physicians serve on the governing boards of hospitals or hospital systems, is a conflict of interest created?
For the physician: 2 votes (3%) For the hospital or hospital system: 1 vote (2%) For both: 20 votes (31%) For neither: 10 votes (16%) Depends on the situation: 31 votes (48%)
Total votes: 64 Jan. 21-Feb. 4, 2008
Question:
How prepared are physician-owned specialty hospitals to handle patient emergencies at their facilities?
How do you think physician-owned healthcare businesses will perform financially in 2008?
Better than 2007: 180 votes (35%) About the same as 2007: 122 votes (24%) Worse than 2007: 134 votes (26%) Not sure: 78 votes (15%)
Total votes: 514 Dec. 17, 2007-Jan. 7, 2008
Question:
Why do you think many physicians are reluctant to report instances of colleagues being impaired, demonstrating incompetent medical practices or making a serious medical error to the appropriate committees, agencies or authorities?
Career repercussions: 75 votes (17%) Financial repercussions: 15 votes (3%) Legal repercussions: 87 votes (20%) Personal repercussions: 60 votes (14%) Professional repercussions: 162 votes (37%) Other: 37 votes (9%)
Total votes: 437 Dec. 3-17, 2007
Question:
What's the biggest obstacle practices have to overcome in creating a health information exchange?
Total votes: 42 (numbers do not add to 100% due to rounding) Oct. 1-15, 2007
Question:
Modern Healthcare, a sister publication to Modern Physician, conducted a straw poll in the run-up to the Iowa caucuses and primary voting beginning early in 2008. The candidates have spoken about what they plan to accomplish once they take office—especially regarding America’s healthcare system. Now it’s your turn to let us know which candidates you support at this point in the process. The results, published in Modern Healthcare's "Guide to Healthcare in the 2008 Presidential Campaign" on Nov. 26, can also be accessed here:
What effect will pay-for-performance reimbursement systems for physicians have on patient care?
Improve the quality of patient care: 18 votes (45%) Have no effect on the quality of patient care: 16 votes (40%) Diminish the quality of patient care: 6 votes (15%)
What do you think of plans by Carilion Health System to convert from a hospital-system model to a physician-clinic model?
Strongly agree with conversion: 409 votes (55%) Somewhat agree with conversion: 65 votes (9%) Somewhat disagree with conversion: 25 votes (3%) Strongly disagree with conversion: 249 votes (33%)
Total votes: 748 June 4-18, 2007
Question:
The Internal Revenue Service issued a legal memo in May that said not-for-profit hospitals may provide financial assistance to docs to acquire and implement EHRs without jeopardizing the hospitals' tax-exempt status. Do you think the memo will:
Encourage docs to acquire/implement IT?: 49 votes (61%) Discourage docs from acquiring/implementing IT?: 6 votes (8%) Have no effect on docs acquiring/implementing IT?: 25 votes (31%)
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