>>one of the things that skews the figures that appear in these studies are many doctors that choose a 25,000-40,000 surgery charge over a patients welfare.
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>>If this is true, perhaps you would be better served if physician income were not bound to their orders, including procedures performed.
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>We have been hearing a lot about the "Cleveland model," a hospital where doctors are paid salaries (in line with private practice doctors) and with an outstanding record in patient health. Different specialists work together and get back to the old business of focusing on the patient's care rather than on billing by procedure. There are other hospitals working on the same model which have also been successful. Still, most doctors are not interested, for obvious reasons.

Back in 1996, the Cleveland Clinic, Washington University in St. Louis, Walter Reed, KU Med. Center, and Univ. of Missouri all gave me good advice. The Chief of Urology at one of them even called me at home one evening. We talked for about an hour....couldn't believe it.