title: Facing the malpractice crisis: academic physicians' willingness to accept quick fix solutions.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We sought to determine the willingness of academic physicians to accept strategies to contain institutional malpractice costs.
  
  
  METHODS
  We surveyed all 270 Department of Medicine physicians at a large academic center. Respondents were asked about their knowledge regarding malpractice premiums, willingness to reduce patient-care activities and accept decreases in compensation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The response rate was 80%. Respondents estimated the annual increase in malpractice premiums from 2004 to 2005 to be 29%. The true increase was 28% (P = 0.55). Almost all opposed eliminating patient care (95%) or providing patient care every other year at double effort and withdrawing from patient care on alternate years (97%). Seventy percent would limit their clinical procedures. Most physicians opposed salary reduction (97%) or decreases in fringe benefits (99%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Few academic physicians are willing to limit patient care or accept decreases in compensation to recoup institutional malpractice costs.
authors.affiliation: Division of General Internal Medicine, Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center, B2N, Rom 235, 4940 Eastern Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA. rlevine@jhmi.edu
authors.forename: Rachel B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Levine
authors.forename: Steven J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Kravet
authors.forename: Darcy A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Reed
authors.forename: Donna M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Windish
authors.forename: Leah
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wolfe
authors.forename: Scott M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Wright
mesh_terms: D000046:Academic Medical Centers / Q000191:economics*; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003363:Cost Control; D003625:Data Collection; D005180:Faculty, Medical; D005260:Female; D017721:Hospital Costs; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008318:Malpractice / Q000191:economics*; D008875:Middle Aged; D005791:Patient Care; D012456:Salaries and Fringe Benefits