Prepaid medical practice. Obvious and hidden tradeoffs in leaving private practice.
After 11 years of private practice this primary care physician objected to such growing distractions as increasing paperwork, governmental control, and liability concerns. His work consumed so much time that he had little left for his personal life--most importantly, his wife and children. He therefore made the decision to join the staff of a prepaid medical practice. Having already weighed the known advantages and disadvantages of doing so, he later found that there were additional pros and cons. The author tells how he has modified some of the drawbacks of working for an HMO in order to maintain his preferred standard of medical care, and how he has come to terms regarding his commitment to the field of medicine.
D003657:Decision Making; D006279:Health Maintenance Organizations / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D010820:Physicians / Q000523:psychology; D011331:Private Practice; D013315:Stress, Psychological; D014481:United States