Hospitals taking over anesthesia services

[achieman]

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So I'm about to embark on an interview trail for PP jobs. There are several hospitals where I will be interviewing where the hospital newly "acquired" the anesthesia group and they are now hospital employees. During the take over, there were a few docs who decided they want to go elsewhere, the majority stayed and now the hospital is looking to hire a few additions to fill the open slots. Of course, I'm going to try and track down the people who left and see what their decision making process was regarding the takeover, but who has some experience with such moves and what do I need to be aware of? Also, from the dissolved group and hospital stand point and my point, what are the advantages/disadvantages?

 

[2ndyear]

I went to a meeting recently where data on this was brought up. Apparently over the last several years there has been a big increase in the number of hospital employed anesthesia groups. I interviewed at a few, but I ended up taking a job with a private group. Here's what I thought:

Advantages: Great benefits, malpractice generally paid (with tail or occurance based policy), wonderful health insurance, transparency in salary. You know what you make year 1, 2, and 3. And what your buddy makes as well. Offers like paid relocation and student loan benefits must be easier for hospitals to offer as opposed to private groups.

Disadvantages: Salary probably less in the long run, but I would imagine this varies with location. I found a place in BFE as a hospital employee that would have paid me a lot of money to live in BFE. Probably less control over your day to day life and whatnot. Your ultimate boss is the hospital CEO.

 

[Planktonmd]

So I'm about to embark on an interview trail for PP jobs. There are several hospitals where I will be interviewing where the hospital newly "acquired" the anesthesia group and they are now hospital employees. During the take over, there were a few docs who decided they want to go elsewhere, the majority stayed and now the hospital is looking to hire a few additions to fill the open slots. Of course, I'm going to try and track down the people who left and see what their decision making process was regarding the takeover, but who has some experience with such moves and what do I need to be aware of? Also, from the dissolved group and hospital stand point and my point, what are the advantages/disadvantages?

This is the future of anesthesia: Hospital employment or management companies, the small private groups will gradually disappear.
As a new graduate you probably will get a better deal working for a hospital than working for a crook who bribes the hospital administration and skims a percentage out of your income.

 

[otho]

This is the future of anesthesia: Hospital employment or management companies, the small private groups will gradually disappear.
As a new graduate you probably will get a better deal working for a hospital than working for a crook who bribes the hospital administration and skims a percentage out of your income.

Working for a Hospital is always better than working an Anesthesia Management company, but as happened in Lubbock, TX. The hospital first forced the anesthesiologists to become hospital employees. Then the hospital mismanaged the group and then decided to invite in an Anesthesia Management company in the hope of cutting costs and cleaning up their mess. Each step was a significant pay cut for the anesthesiologists and loss of autonomy.

 

[deleted126335]

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[achieman]

From talking to the couple of groups in the mold that I just posted, it seems that a few of them are still in the growing pain phase where they are needing several people to join. That said, the more desprite they are, the more likely they would give me a better offer. On the same token, jump onto a sinking ship unknowningly or thinking that I will be the difference maker that balance things out could drag me under.
Sounds like I got more investigation to do, but it is assuring to hear that it's not all bad news when a hospital takes over.

 

[Noyac]

Most people here know that I am a hosp employee. I came from private group to my current gig. I can honestly say that the private group way is best. But that is not to say that the hosp empl model is all that bad. I make good money even by private group standards (there is a private group in town that makes less than we do but the 2 main guys are owners of the hospital so I can't figure out why the others are there).

The problem is retirement as Doze said. The other issues are less of a problem as far as I can tell.

 

[Noyac]

Be sure to find out exactly what was involved in the hospital taking over the group. No hospital really wants to be in the anesthesia business. Therefore, something must have gone really wrong. This doesn't mean that things are not good there.

Another way of looking at it is that some hospitals are anxious to get into the anesthesia business to control some of the OR but soon find out as someone mentioned above that they suck at anesthesia management. Then they become anxious to get out of it. This is where management companies come in. If the area is good for the management company then thats the next move. But not all areas are attractive to management companies (like my location) and the hospital may be eager to make a deal. This takes a few years for them to realize but if the group you are looking at has been hosp empl's for a few years then ask about this.