Opinion
Small practices could benefit from EMR data -- if given the chance
LETTER — Posted Dec. 17, 2007
Regarding "Bigger practice, better quality? Practice size not the complete answer" (Article, Nov. 26): The article was as well balanced as could be. As a solo practitioner with an electronic medical record, I can provide quality data. Unfortunately, I have not encountered a payer willing to look at it.
The gap between big groups and small groups will grow wider, as all practices must provide more data to payers, for less return. However, it is wrong to assume that physicians in solo practice and small groups act with financial interests any different than those in large private groups.
I disagree with the comment by Don Fisher, PhD, president and CEO of the American Medical Group Assn.: "When you get into a larger group and have medical records, all of a sudden you have the public practice of medicine. You have peer pressure to do the right thing rather than just improve your W-2 at the end of the year." The medical trade press is replete with examples of financial profiling of member physicians by large groups, and the negative consequences to the careers of these doctors.
Bigger may be better, but I believe that small medical practices will not be given the opportunity to prove this wrong.
L. Allen Kindman, MD, Oxford, N.C.
Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2007/12/17/edlt1217.htm.
