They can and do cause issues even as employees if they feel they don't have enough say in big transitions.
The CRNAs had no say in it and didn't want to make the transition. They are well aware of what happened.
They can and do cause issues even as employees if they feel they don't have enough say in big transitions.
Mednax didn’t lose a dime. Remember mednax is billing for 30-40% more than what the former group was generating due to market forces6 Ways to Ensure Clinical Quality While Switching Anesthesia Providers
“2. Meet a few weeks before the start date to go over policies and procedures. Dr. Wherry says the center administrator should meet with the new anesthesia group a few weeks in advance to discuss the center's policies and procedures. This particularly applies to pre-op screening processes and post-operative care processes. "If you've had trouble with the old group around pre-op screening processes, this is the opportunity to make changes," Dr. Wherry says. "For example, the old group may have been too stringent on a type of patient or required too much information." He says some surgery center leaders feel that their anesthesia group is not involved enough in the pre-op screening process, so this is a perfect opportunity to lay out expectations for the new providers.”
Guess the preop screening won’t be overly “stringent” now.
Total Anesthesia Solutions
Be wary if Wherry shows up at your hospital as a “consultant”😉
Mednax pays $200mil. Scope gets it for free. Wherry is very smart. This shows how much anesthesia practices are actually worth and how vulnerable we actually are. All hospitals and AMCs are watching this. The upside is that it will have a chilling effect on future AMC buyouts.
Usually 3-5 years. They sold out in 2010. It’s 2018. It’s amutepoint as most of the partners who wanted to leave already left if they wanted to.
It's pretty insane how this stuff is allowed in our country. They provide no service at all and only increase cost. They are like a giant parasite that benefits off other peoples work and suffering...
That's Crony Capitalism in its purest, unadulterated form. Insurance companies collude with large AMCs to pay them $140 per unit. Hospitals and small groups get $55 per unit. There is no way to compete and the consumer gets screwed with higher rates. Hospitals are forced to fire long standing groups which need a subsidy or end employment of their own staff. AMCs continue the process of bribing the insurance companies to keep the per unit rate higher and higher each year. Meanwhile, the employee on the ground doesn't see a dime of these increases in his/her pay.
i bet when this whole scam gets revealed to the public, they'll just blame our profession
Mednax didn’t lose a dime. Remember mednax is billing for 30-40% more than what the former group was generating due to market forces
Let’s ssys the former practice was generating 100 million a year. Mednax is generating 140 million in increased billing
40 millon each year x 7 years equals 280 million. . They made up their 200 million purchase.
Combined with docs getting less salary each year (350k-400k vs 500-550k)
Mednax is in the clear easily by 100 million over the last 7 years from the purchase.
The partners who sold out are in the clear was well. Selling restricted stock options in 2-3 years and selling around 2014/2015. Easy money in stock options for former partners. Plus the initial cash infusion for each partner.
I agree Mednax did okay on the deal. Wherry could do even better since he swooped in without paying a dime for something Mednax paid $200mil for in 2010. Going forward why would any AMC put up a ton of cash when the same thing can happen elsewhere? The shift in power is favoring the large hospital systems.
Hospital pays a set fee per doc to the group, but it keeps the billing.
I'm not at a point where I am all that versed in business, but I'd imagine it saves the hospital the cost of all the benefits and HR work to directly employ the physicians while also giving them a more stable physician staff at a lower price than they would pay to a locums. Seems like an attractive option at at least my uneducated first glance.How is this very different than employed by hospital? Or hospital going to a locum company?
Our most recent CT fellow was a part of this group. He had left to do fellowship, with his job "secured" for his return. He's obviously now looking for a new job due to the 2 year non-compete.Any word from the front lines on how the first couple of months went?
Any word from the front lines on how the first couple of months went?
Our most recent CT fellow was a part of this group. He had left to do fellowship, with his job "secured" for his return. He's obviously now looking for a new job due to the 2 year non-compete.
He told me that the hospitals that his group staffed are now being covered by a combination of locums and the other anesthesia group(s) in town coming in to help.
Very rocky.
At least one anesthesiologist was fired.
At least one peripheral site unable to staff adequately.
Some surgeons refusing to work with anesthesiologists because they are so bad.
Presumably low morale because CRNA's are so entitled.
The anesthesiologists who signed on are all making good money but this will change within a couple of years.
MEDNAX losing the few area contracts that they have left.
Pretty much what I’ve been told as well. The new hires are making some big money but they are being run absolutely ragged as they don’t have near enough coverage - 24+ hour shifts the norm.
Charlotte, unfortunately, is a dumpster fire for now. It’ll get better, but slowly. MEDNAX is persona non grata in the area.
Bills for Atrium patients drop after anesthesiology vendor change, hospital CEO says
Any thoughts on claims by the CEO?
Bills for Atrium patients drop after anesthesiology vendor change, hospital CEO says
Any thoughts on claims by the CEO?
well they used to get an individual anesthesia bill from Mednax at a very high rate. Now they get an anesthesia bill combined with their hospital facility bill so I'm 100% sure the anesthesia bill is less.
Wasn't that (supposedly) one of the hospital's primary gripes in the first place? That the AMC was billing ridiculous out-of-network costs to a lot of patients, who got angry, and got their surgeons angry over the practice?well they used to get an individual anesthesia bill from Mednax at a very high rate. Now they get an anesthesia bill combined with their hospital facility bill so I'm 100% sure the anesthesia bill is less.
Bills for Atrium patients drop after anesthesiology vendor change, hospital CEO says
Any thoughts on claims by the CEO?
Wasn’t this discussed before that the new anesthesia group was basically the hospitals shill?
Scope is a group of docs that contract w the hospital, same as Mednax. CRNAs did and do work for the hospital. Where’s all the savings? All OON billing issues? And 20 mill of savings?
Patients paying less = no more OON issues.
Atrium "saving" $20 million = the system is skimming anesthesiologists earnings
Or Scope agreed to work without stipends or reduced stipends.
Or Scope agreed to work without stipends or reduced stipends.
Not hard to read the court documents at the North Carolina Business Court public access( search Mednax)..... latest briefs and reply are an interesting tell on the state of the quality of care being delivered ( of which no one from Atrium ever discusses these days. Most of the older MD’s retired.... younger non partnered MD’s have scattered to real estate, med spas, locums, ketamine clinics,small hospitals in NC ( whose MDs all came to Charlotte.... no one is paying attention to all the small anesthesia departments in NC that lost MDs to Atriums checkbook.) Who knows the patient harm when you decimate existing small group staffing. As far as the noncompete who wants to work next / with the scabs that came in because a big check was being waived in the air.
As to the 20 million in savings... one only has to read Mednax quarterly reports to recognize that the company “lost 20 million/ yr in earnings from the loss of the Charlotte contract”. The change of physicians had no impact on cost savings but removing Mednax did.Atrium has yet to take down the old Southeast MD’s from there website and post who is actually working at the hospital ( including ***deleted by mod*** ) a respected long time MD who was a former partner who hung himself 3 days before the contract ended. Gone are the days where physicians remember the oath they took when they graduated medical school.View attachment 262521
Not hard to read the court documents at the North Carolina Business Court public access( search Mednax)..... latest briefs and reply are an interesting tell on the state of the quality of care being delivered ( of which no one from Atrium ever discusses these days. Most of the older MD’s retired.... younger non partnered MD’s have scattered to real estate, med spas, locums, ketamine clinics,small hospitals in NC ( whose MDs all came to Charlotte.... no one is paying attention to all the small anesthesia departments in NC that lost MDs to Atriums checkbook.) Who knows the patient harm when you decimate existing small group staffing. As far as the noncompete who wants to work next / with the scabs that came in because a big check was being waived in the air.
As to the 20 million in savings... one only has to read Mednax quarterly reports to recognize that the company “lost 20 million/ yr in earnings from the loss of the Charlotte contract”. The change of physicians had no impact on cost savings but removing Mednax did.Atrium has yet to take down the old Southeast MD’s from there website and post who is actually working at the hospital ( including *deleted by mod**( ) a respected long time MD who was a former partner who hung himself 3 days before the contract ended. Gone are the days where physicians remember the oath they took when they graduated medical school.View attachment 262521
Not hard to read the court documents at the North Carolina Business Court public access( search Mednax)..... latest briefs and reply are an interesting tell on the state of the quality of care being delivered ( of which no one from Atrium ever discusses these days. Most of the older MD’s retired.... younger non partnered MD’s have scattered to real estate, med spas, locums, ketamine clinics,small hospitals in NC ( whose MDs all came to Charlotte.... no one is paying attention to all the small anesthesia departments in NC that lost MDs to Atriums checkbook.) Who knows the patient harm when you decimate existing small group staffing. As far as the noncompete who wants to work next / with the scabs that came in because a big check was being waived in the air.
As to the 20 million in savings... one only has to read Mednax quarterly reports to recognize that the company “lost 20 million/ yr in earnings from the loss of the Charlotte contract”. The change of physicians had no impact on cost savings but removing Mednax did.Atrium has yet to take down the old Southeast MD’s from there website and post who is actually working at the hospital ( including ***deleted by mod*** ) a respected long time MD who was a former partner who hung himself 3 days before the contract ended. Gone are the days where physicians remember the oath they took when they graduated medical school.View attachment 262521
I wouldn't be surprised if what he says is true, but with a username like notascab I'm sure he's not here with an unbiased agenda-free report.What does that really tell us, though? That Scope doesn't want their dirty laundry aired? Which hospital system/physician group/AMC does? Was Southeast/Mednax publishing a list of all their complications?
Kinda meaningless without knowing frequency, severity, etc. I'm not saying the quality of care hasn't changed, I'd have to assume that many things have changed with that kind of transition. Just saying that what you posted isn't exactly proof of anything...
I challenge you to do your own research. The facts are not being denied. The brief was a court document. Read David Salama’s June 30,2018 Facebook post. Go to Atriums web site and see if the only physicians listed are former Southeast and ( Northast medical center MD’s.)Go to find a provider at CHS.gov and search CHS anesthesia. Investigate the real providers at Atrium currently practicing. Read through Gene Woods public comments about transitions take a few years to play out. These are publicly disclosed facts . There are other “ rumors” that I chose not to reveal but have confirmed from multiple independent sources. No one is willling to speak on the record to news outlets because of fear of backlash.
The larger the system the less the cost. For example, HR is already set up. They have hundreds of nursing, IT, dietary, and administrative staff on the books already. So the cost savings are minuscule.I'm not at a point where I am all that versed in business, but I'd imagine it saves the hospital the cost of all the benefits and HR work to directly employ the physicians while also giving them a more stable physician staff at a lower price than they would pay to a locums. Seems like an attractive option at at least my uneducated first glance.
I know at least 2 people currently working there and 1 person who helped with the transition. They are hard-working, talented, professional, and were well-regarded at my institution, as I am sure that many of Southeast's former employees were. I am also certain that not everyone there is of that quality, but to act like there aren't people on this board who actually know/knew people both pre- and post-transition is foolish.
The only "facts" you have listed are accusations in a court document, a Facebook post, and some dude's comments. If you would like to present us with data showing us longer PACU LOS, slower turnover time, less OR utilization, decrease case volumes, more intraop MIs, lower patient satisfaction scores, etc, we are all ears.
Like I said earlier, I am quite sure that some of those numbers actually HAVE changed with the transition. But we'll never know about it, because that kind of data isn't public. So don't come on here spouting "facts" when you have none.
I get that you're salty. Any of us would be, in that situation. It's a good lesson for residents and med students out there as to the politics of business, and the importance of watching out for yourself, having backup plans, and to make hay/save while you can, so that you can reach FI as early as possible.
I am sincerely sorry that you're having to learn it the hard way.
I know at least 2 people currently working there and 1 person who helped with the transition. They are hard-working, talented, professional, and were well-regarded at my institution, as I am sure that many of Southeast's former employees were. I am also certain that not everyone there is of that quality, but to act like there aren't people on this board who actually know/knew people both pre- and post-transition is foolish.
The only "facts" you have listed are accusations in a court document, a Facebook post, and some dude's comments. If you would like to present us with data showing us longer PACU LOS, slower turnover time, less OR utilization, decrease case volumes, more intraop MIs, lower patient satisfaction scores, etc, we are all ears.
Like I said earlier, I am quite sure that some of those numbers actually HAVE changed with the transition. But we'll never know about it, because that kind of data isn't public. So don't come on here spouting "facts" when you have none.
I get that you're salty. Any of us would be, in that situation. It's a good lesson for residents and med students out there as to the politics of business, and the importance of watching out for yourself, having backup plans, and to make hay/save while you can, so that you can reach FI as early as possible.
I am sincerely sorry that you're having to learn it the hard way.
I am sure your 3 cohorts are fine clinicians...... but I can't consider them professional or physicians. Atrium has a huge marketing budget and does a fine job of touting their successes. Are you trying to tell me that they are holding back how quality, PACU LOS, turnover times, satisfaction has improved? For years, Atrium instructed every staff member to tell patients that they were going " to receive excellent care" so when the patients filled out there satisfaction survey " excellent" came to mind........they make a huge effort to impart that they provide better quality....
Charlotte has a museum for the plane that landed in the Hudson..... I am sure pilots for American are all certified and largely have no issues..... but I am also sure that the passengers on the plane are very happy and satisfied that the captain of that plane had flown that route thousands of times and was a former Navy instructor with countless hours on simulators was at the helm.....not a pilot that happened to be on standby because he/she needed extra cash!
Yes it is an excellent lesson for residents and medical students to see and hear this discussion. There is a big difference in doing locums where there is a "need" vs a replacement. I am sure that there a few clinicians who "needed" to be in Charlotte for personal reasons, but if you review the lists physicians on CMS web site you may find that many are locums..... ... and I suspect are going through a new round of locums in August ( by looking at Gaswork reviewing the locums ads that describe Charlotte but don't actually say Charlotte)
Back up plans and FI are important..... I guess the argument would be to homeschool your kids, don't get involved in your community, don't buy a house, and don't contribute to the local economy wherever you live. In fact hopefully, anesthesiology will go to telemedicine and you can supervise 30 rooms negating the need for half the workforce and you can live wherever you want or just support the AANA in their efforts to practice independently!