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The future for Delaware health care when Highmark squares off against Christiana?

Have no doubt that this kind of conflict is coming here.

Comments

Nancy Willing said…
I got through to KWS the other day and she said in response to my email, she had assigned the study of potential trouble with any Highmark business tactic. I asked her to send me this request for action in writing.
Anonymous said…
What kind of conflict? Health systems hiring doctors from another health system? That's pretty common in most markets already.
Delaware Watch said…
I don't see how this poaching of doctors from one healthcare system to another and the possibility of scant information about it would decrease even under the "freest" of market conditions.
Anonymous said…
This has been going on since the 90s, just look at U of P and tons of Philly area practices. MDs just allow the practices to be bought and then they are employees or sever from the institution. Jefferson does it, CHOP does it, and on and on. You just haven't seen it in De., because it's a rather captive market w/ Christiana being really the only game in town, until you get to Dover. St. Francis poses no threat, as they are already under the umbrella of Catholic Health Systems. What galls me is the non-notification to patients. Even in the 90s, women who were due, were left like the Colts leaving Baltimore. Really tacky. But that was the contract. No notification. Interestingly though, most OB practices now are set up the MD who delivers you is just that, a doctor who covers all the deliveries. A hospitalist concept, like you are seeing when your primary doctor admits you to the hospital. No more visits from him. You are admitted to a hospital only doctor. OBs today are going the road of pre-natal/post natal, gyn care only. The delivery is turned over to a hospital based delivery professional only physician, or a designated partner in the practice who does the deliveries for that practice. The days of entrusted care from ovulation to congratulations are over. Or getting there real fast.

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