AMA to Forbes: Medical drama

Forbes
Letter to the Editor

To the Editor:

Physician-owned specialty hospitals have injected competition into the hospital market, forcing traditional hospitals to improve and innovate in order to retain patients (Bad Medicine). The American Medical Association believes specialty hospitals are a win-win for patients and for the health care system as we work to improve care.

High quality care and patient satisfaction at physician-owned specialty hospitals have forced critics to focus their attacks on allegations that these hospitals harm the bottom line of community hospitals. Yet, a government report found that specialty hospitals have no statistically significant impact on community hospitals total revenue or total margins.

Specialty hospitals are an innovative way to promote high quality, cost-effective care, and should be part of an integrated health care system dedicated to providing patients with high quality and choice in care.

Sincerely,

William G. Plested III, MD
American Medical Association, Immediate Past-President

*Edited version published in Forbes.