Facing the malpractice crisis: academic physicians' willingness to accept quick fix solutions.
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.
Levine
Rachel B
RB
Division of General Internal Medicine, Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center, B2N, Rom 235, 4940 Eastern Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA. rlevine@jhmi.edu
Kravet
Steven J
SJ
Reed
Darcy A
DA
Windish
Donna M
DM
Wolfe
Leah
L
Wright
Scott M
SM
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