Independent doctors or a hospital network (dermatologist, insurance, school)

[Squishier0662]

Hi All,

I would like to get an opinion on whether it is beneficial for a person to go to doctors who are part of a big hospital, such as, BaylorScott&White, network or go with independent doctors ? I expect more personal attention from independent doctors but staying in a hospital network probably makes the logistics of dealing with multiple type of doctors easier.

Thanks,
-NA

[Wittgenstein's Ghost]

The logistics are probably similar assuming you are staying in network with your insurance. I wouldn't assume that "independent" doctors give more personal attention. Most primary care docs are part of a group of some kind. Whether that group operates out of its own office or under a bigger network probably doesn't dictate the level of care as much as the quality of the docs and group themselves do.

There are good docs and bad docs in both settings. When I'm looking for a new doctor, I look for the following:

• I want the doctor to be in a practice that seems well-run. You can get a sense of this from things like the website, number of doctors at the practice and reviews. None of those are foolproof, but I'm looking for a practice that has its act together and has a certain level of professionalism.
  
• I want a doctor that went to a good medical school and completed his or her residency (and fellowship, if applicable) at a well-regarded hospital. This also isn't foolproof, but it at least tells me that the doctor had his or her act together at some point in their lives and likely received a good education. Why more patients don't check on this sort of thing is beyond me.
  
• If I don't feel I'm receiving good care, I switch.

I've had moderate Crohn's Disease for over fifteen years, and I've broken multiple bones in mountain bike crashes. So I've probably done the doctor hunt thing more than most. You don't get to cut on me (surgery) or be my regular GI if you didn't go to a top 25 medical school or at least complete your residency/fellowship at a similarly prestigious program. This rule has generally lead me to quality doctors. I'm more flexible with my primary care docs, and I currently see a PA who is cool with letting me tell her which docs I want a referral to.

[tcualum]

Some of my doctors are with Baylor Scott and White and they are fabulous. What's nice about it is that they can see all of my records for BSW care instead of having to have them sent over which can be a big pain. I have independent doctors who are great as well but coordinating care can be more difficult with them.

[ChristieP]

Speaking as a former physicians' group HR, a doctor doesn't get to be part of a hospital network if they have license complaints, insufficient training, or is not board-certified in their specialty. Any independent doc can just hang out a shingle and start their own practice.

As BSW patient, I do love the convenience of a single patient portal that allows all of my doctors to see all of my medical records, and allows me to see a PA or NP if my primary care physician is on vacation.

[20Hope20]

I check doc's educational background and hospital affiliations and make sure i don't get off loaded to a non-physician provider.

[platon20]

Originally Posted by Wittgenstein's Ghost

I'm more flexible with my primary care docs, and I currently see a PA who is cool with letting me tell her which docs I want a referral to.

Let me guess every time you get a cold you demand antibiotics for it too, right?

[platon20]

There are pros and cons both ways.

One major pro of an independent doctor is that you know who has full authority over the clinic. If the scheduling is screwed up, it's the doctors fault and under the doctor's control. If one of the staff is screwing up, the doctor has the authority to fire them immediately.

At a hospital practice it's not under the doctor's control, it's some bureaucrat in a hospital exec suite that won't take calls or complaints or do anything to change the practice for the better. Doctor can't fire anyone without exec approval. Doctor can't schedule an hour long consultation for a sensitive issue because the hospital execs want the doc to see 50 patients a day to increase revenue. Doctor can't refer them to a specialist outside the hospital network because the hospital execs want all referrals to be done in house.

[Wittgenstein's Ghost]

Originally Posted by platon20

Let me guess every time you get a cold you demand antibiotics for it too, right?

What on earth did I say that made you think that? You think because I want to pick my dermatologist or GI that I also insist on picking what medications are appropriate for me? This is absurd reasoning.

[tcualum]

Originally Posted by platon20

There are pros and cons both ways.

One major pro of an independent doctor is that you know who has full authority over the clinic. If the scheduling is screwed up, it's the doctors fault and under the doctor's control. If one of the staff is screwing up, the doctor has the authority to fire them immediately.

At a hospital practice it's not under the doctor's control, it's some bureaucrat in a hospital exec suite that won't take calls or complaints or do anything to change the practice for the better. Doctor can't fire anyone without exec approval. Doctor can't schedule an hour long consultation for a sensitive issue because the hospital execs want the doc to see 50 patients a day to increase revenue. Doctor can't refer them to a specialist outside the hospital network because the hospital execs want all referrals to be done in house.

Not true. My primary care doctor is with BSW and I've never felt rushed during her appointments. She also has referred me to an outside ENT and gastroenterologist.

[loves2read]

Originally Posted by Squishier0662

Hi All,

I would like to get an opinion on whether it is beneficial for a person to go to doctors who are part of a big hospital, such as, BaylorScott&White, network or go with independent doctors ? I expect more personal attention from independent doctors but staying in a hospital network probably makes the logistics of dealing with multiple type of doctors easier.

Thanks,
-NA

All doctors are in hospital networks—otherwise they couldn’t admit you as a patient

Just depends on if their practices are OWNED by hospital networks