A Note from Dr. Redan
From: Jay A. Redan, M.D., F.A.C.S. (jarlap@epix.net)
Sun Mar 11 18:29:29 2001
Over the past several days I’ve had many conversations with my wife and
my colleagues concerning the recent postings on this website. Since I
was personally mentioned here, I feel like I need to offer an
explanation on my own behalf before this misunderstanding, (and I say
this with the utmost respect to Regina, but it is just that) gets blown
any further out of proportion than it already has. If you,(Regina),
felt slighted by our office staff I do truly apologize to you. Our
office staff is judicious in all the insurance laws and bylaws, and
handle the “business” end with the intent to explain, not confuse or
belittle people about their insurance carriers.
I went into the practice of medicine to help people, and I do. I am a
doctor not a businessman but I’m also a husband and a father. So often
these days, it seems, physicians are left having to explain why they
charge people at all. Why is this? I went to college for four years, to
medical school for four more and spent the next six years in a surgical
residency program. I entered the “workforce” at age 32, (already many
years after most people have begun to accrue savings and retirement
funds) with an astronomical student loan debt but an optimistic view for
my future. Well, as every other physician in this country, I got a rude
awakening from malpractice insurance (Over $100,000/year) fees to office
management to HMO reimbursement. Which, by the way, too often, does not
cover the expense of running an office, let alone a salary for the
physician. Many of my colleagues have left their practices for
positions in other fields. It is a shame, for the mass exodus from the
medical field does not reflect the quality of expertise that has left.
Many of who were pioneers in their field. I really feel people today
should question when an HMO claims they’ve controlled health costs, for
the money has just been redirected away from the patient to the pockets
of the HMO leaders. If you check, you’ll find most CEOs of HMOs receive
yearly salaries in the millions of dollars. As a husband and father of
four, do I hope, after I pay the insurances and the office expenses,
that I have an income to support my family and put away for college for
my kids and my retirement? Yes, I do want that. That I can take a
yearly vacation with my family? Guilty as charged.
But as for the “world renowned” stuff, those are your words not ours. We
are a group of surgeons who specialize in laparoscopy and happen to be
very good at what we do. I believe in this website as a source of
support for all of you suffering from ARD. As to the crack about my
having the time to read the postings on this site; I don’t! However I
make the time because I think reading some of your postings gives me a
better understanding of what ARD patients are going through. And
perhaps with this understanding, I may be able to help a little more and
with a little more compassion than the next guy. Thanks for you time.
Jay Redan MD
|
