Case study Q & A: Should Community Hospital employ Dr. Brown?

During your next medical staff meeting, try this exercise: Have everyone in the room read the case study below and decide individually whether or not Community Hospital should hire Dr. Brown. Then, ask everyone to share why he or she chose that particular outcome. Set aside 15 minutes for a discussion period and see how many of your medical staff leaders are on the same page.

Dr. Brown has been practicing family medicine independently for the past 25 years. He attempted several times to take on a partner, but each physician he recruited left the practice within six to 12 months. He has never inquired as to why each physician left. Dr. Brown enjoys the autonomy and independence of his solo practice, and over the years, he has frequently berated administration at Community Hospital for being out of touch with private practitioners in the community. During the past two years, Dr. Brown’s revenue has been flat, and expenses have increased to the point where his practice is no longer financially viable. He visits Community Hospital’s CEO, stating that he is now ready to become employed by the hospital and is willing to accept an arrangement similar to the arrangement that current leadership is offering other practitioners in the community. Should the hospital employ Dr. Brown?

This exercise is adapted from The Greeley Guide to Physician Employment and Contracting by William K. Cors, MD, MMM, FACPE, CMSL and Richard A. Sheff, MD, CMSL.