Economic impact of bariatrics on a general surgery practice.
Bariatric surgery is currently a rapidly growing subsection of general surgery, with exponential expansion over the past decade. Many residency programs lacked sufficient experience in bariatrics, necessitating established surgeons to consider re-training and re-vamping of their practice to enter the field. The addition of bariatric surgery to a general surgery practice can present economic consequences, which are both positive and negative. Positive consequences include a potential new revenue source with a large population base. Negative consequences include increased employees, required paper-work and office resources, increased malpractice premiums, difficulties with appropriate reimbursement, and limitations on access to appointment time for non-bariatric cases. This paper reviews the potential economic impact of bariatric surgery on a general surgery practice and possible alternatives to manage these efficiently.
Department of Surgery, Emory-Dunwoody Medical Center, Atlanta, GA, USA. jkchamp@juno.com
J Kenneth
JK
Champion
Michael
M
Williams
D001071:Appointments and Schedules; D050110:Bariatric Surgery / Q000191:economics / Q000193:education*; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D004503:Education, Medical, Graduate; D005260:Female; D013502:General Surgery / Q000191:economics / Q000193:education*; D006801:Humans; D007351:Insurance, Liability; D007357:Insurance, Physician Services; D007396:Internship and Residency; D008297:Male; D020380:Needs Assessment; D009767:Obesity, Morbid / Q000191:economics* / Q000601:surgery; D011216:Practice Management, Medical / Q000191:economics*; D018570:Risk Assessment; D014481:United States