According to insurance executives, doctors, once among the most dependable workers in America, are leaving their jobs in sharply rising numbers to collect disability benefits, sometimes earning more on disability than by working. Surgeons, known for continuing to practice though suffering from arthritic hands, formerly ranked with lawyers, accountants, and architects in occupations most favored […]

Health organizations have been extremely successful in their drive to increase the taxes on cigarettes in order to pay for various health-related programs. Cautioned that this amounts to a “sin tax,” these organizations were warned that this could back fire some day should folks decide “not to smoke.” If the significant revenue stopped would we […]

In the past few weeks, the press has pointed out many instances of HMOs forcing their guidelines on our hospital patients. Just when the brouhaha of sending mothers with their newborn infants home on the date of delivery has died down with a rash of laws to allow two days, instances of outpatient mastectomies have […]

Dr Allen, an internist, who had a successful practice for over 10 years and even owned his own office building, was getting tired of all the hassles of private practice. He was tired of running an office, supervising personnel, doing medical billing, and a host of other things required to run an efficient office. He […]

The lead article was the medical society’s new phone number from HUdson 1-0157 to HUdson 1-2771 to allow for more trunk lines in rotation… The AMA selects our exchange as example in nationwide survey. The editor is concerned about the criticism of the CPS, the California Physician Service (Blue Shield). He argues that the reason […]

A 20-year-old college student is the first known person to survive a rare operation in which surgeons completely removed his heart, cut out a malignant tumor, then re-implanted the repaired organ in his body… It’s always been easier to do repairs at a work bench. Dentistry may be one of the oldest professions as reported […]

The California Department of Social Services computer project, designed to track deadbeat parents who owe child support, is reported to be on “life support.” Although the initial cost was projected to be $99 million, current costs are at $260 million. This comes on the heels of the DMV disaster in which the California government pulled […]

CMA had a debate on their association with CPS (Blue Shield). They re-affirmed that CPS is inextricably linked with the CMA despite the allegations from within and without the profession, “What are the doctors doing in the insurance business?” …If CPS can be channeled for low income group, the Committee feels it will be a […]

The surplus hospital beds have created a problem in down sizing. The real challenge is how to get rid of nursing staff painlessly without fear of retribution. Last month we told you how hospitals got rid of doctors. It worked so smoothly that they are using it on nurses. In a recent merger, where the […]

Can doctors lose their source of income in this Era of hospital mergers? Unbelievable, but yes. Let me tell you about a case that was so smooth that most doctors did not even get an attorney to protect their license-an investment, according to some estimates of a half million dollars of personal or parental funds […]