The board of Augusta Health, a 255-bed medical center in Fishersville, Va., informed three University of Virginia cardiologists that they would lose their hospital privileges on June 30, according to the Charlottesville Daily Progress. The board is limiting the cardiology department to doctors under contract with the medical center, according to a statement made by the board chairman.
The hospital soon will be adding a fifth on-staff cardiologist. The moves are all part of Augusta's plan to give area residents 24-7 access to heart care.
The May 27 letter that notified doctors of the revoked privileges said cardiologists with a financial conflict of interest would lose their clinical privileges at the hospital effective June 30. The board determined that the doctors' compensation arrangements with the University of Virginia constituted a financial conflict of interest.
There is a trend toward more hospitals employing physicians and some reasons are financially driven, says Jennifer Metivier, executive director of the Association of Staff Physician Recruiters. Sixty-five percent of hospitals are trying to increase the number of physicians they employ, according to a 2010 American Hospital Association survey of hospital leaders.
The letter listed 10 reasons for the change. They include helping maintain the economic viability of the cardiology program, improving patient satisfaction, and enhancing efficiency and teamwork within the department.
One of the cardiologists, Max Luna, told the DP that he would not be able to provide emergency care at Augusta Health if one of his patients had a heart attack.
Augusta Health seems to have moved on already. At the top of its website on the right, you'll see some marketing that says, "Heart attack? Care within minutes, not miles."
To learn more:
- see the letter Augusta Health sent the doctors
- read this piece in the Charlottesville Daily Progress
- check out this article in the Staunton News Leader
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