WHY I DON’T JOIN HMO PLANS
Doctor Steven R. Goldstein MD is an obgyn in Manhattan in private practice for over 35 years. Often asked why he doesn’t join HMO plans offered by employers, Dr Goldstein states that patients would not like him on those plans. He goes on to say “My patients need to realize I am a solo practitioner. I see patients one at a time. I take my histories by pen and by ink. I talk to every patient after every visit, no matter how trivial, dressed again in the consultation room. I do not have nurse clinicians and “Physician extenders” doing much of the work that I feel you come to see the doctor for. We do not have a ten page history intake form that is simply scanned into a computer. We do not have an answering system with “Press 1 for appointments, Press 2 for insurance”. If you have a problem, I sit with you and explain for as long as I need to be sure that you understand the nuances of your particular diagnosis and treatment plan” Dr Goldstein goes on to say “Managed care medicine (HMOs) in Ob/gyn is a commitment to VOLUME. Out of financial necessity, more people need to come through the door. The time spent with the physician him or herself is incredibly short, instead the patient sees nurse practitioners, physician assistants and any number of extenders on the visit to make the patient feel that the visit is worthwhile. I choose not to practice medicine that way. I urge you to attempt to maintain a Point of Service