Issue link: https://beckershealthcare.uberflip.com/i/571000
10 SPINE LEADERSHIP Hospital Employment vs. Independent Practice: 4 Spine Surgeons Weigh In By Anuja Valdya K ern Singh, MD, Minimally Invasive Spine Insti- tute, Chica- go: Medicine is all about being your own boss. e days of the physician cottage industry may be over; however, the ability to run a successful independent practice is not. No one knows what we do, so why should we be told how to do it? Rather we should become efficient and cost-effective so that we can still maintain our autonomy. K en- neth Pet- tine, MD, Founder, The Spine Institute, Johnstown, Colo.: In general, hospital administrators are your worst nightmare. For some rea- son, physicians that work at a hospi- tal typically have an extremely ten- uous relationship with the hospital administrators. I have no idea why this seems to be ubiquitous. us, if you decide to be an employee of a hospital, expect to be treated poorly and cast off whenever it would ap- pear to be in the best interest of the hospital. Always remember that any decision that is made will be made in the best interest of the hospital and not you. My understanding is that historically most hospital con- tracts last about three years and then either the hospital or the surgeon elects to change their employment situation. B rian R. Gant- werk- er, MD, The Craniospinal Center of Los Angeles: Carefully con- sider how you like to practice. Do you enjoy your independence? Do you like to compete in an open field? How do you feel about your employ- ees? I would advise [surgeons] to think twice, because it probably is a one-way street. You will probably bid farewell to a lot of the patients you have come to know. You will need to be able to exist within an ecosystem of compliance, paperwork and lots of oversight. is is not necessarily a bad thing, but never make a decision like this based on fear of the future and what people are telling you. R ich- ard Kube, MD, Founder, CEO, Prai- rie Spine & Pain Insti- tute, Peoria, Ill.: My practice name is Prairie Spine & Pain Institute and I can be reached at 309-691-7774. Keep that information handy for the next two or three years and feel free to reach out to me for an opportunity to return to private practice when the deal doesn't work out like everyone had hoped. In all seriousness, be very careful about how the deal is structured because the hospital is not hiring you to lose money. Rest assured that once you are locked in, they will use whatever ability they have to impose pressure on your performance and your income. n Carefully consider how you like to practice. Do you enjoy your independence? Do you like to compete in an open field? -Dr. Brian Gantwerker " "