Be careful relying on the internet to search for a doctor, warns the Post-Gazette

“Two years ago, WellPointe, a huge insurance company with health-care providers all over the country — teamed with survey maven Zagat to establish online physician ratings,” reports the newspaper. “In short, many doctors who ordered fewer tests for patients received higher recommendations from the insurers’ websites.”

Read more: http://www.postgazette.com/pg/10069/1041397-114.stm#ixzz0hmhNFvBn

As demand for healthcare reform increases, so does demand for primary care doctors

Medical experts say that when more people have health coverage, there will be an increased demand for physicians, and there might not be enough of them to go around.

PA physicians’ group says we must invest in primary care

“Increasing preventive care means investing in primary care, but the result is healthier patients living longer lives and a health care system that pays wisely for the checkups and tune-ups and follow-up care to prevent expensive breakdowns that cost so much more,” says John S. Jordan, Executive Vice President for the Pennsylvania Academy of Family Physicians,

Advocacy groups say PA’s budget is going to hurt physician retention

By cutting funding to the Health Care Provider and Retention Account (HCPRA) and the Medical Care Availability and Reduction of Errors (Mcare) fund, PA is discouraging doctors to practice here, say the groups.

Wall Street Journal examines “tangible and unseen” healthcare costs

The WSJ says that spending by doctors extends beyond insurance as many take steps to protect themselves; patients’ wishes push up bills, too.

Doctors who choose to see less patients, in exchange for offering more personalized care

The latest report on “concierge” practices.

Did you know…

…that a family was recently charged $6,000 for a doctor to put three stitches in a child’s mouth?

Phila. Trial Lawyers Assoc. says malpractice payments have fallen dramatically

The association says that tort reform is unnecessary, and that reducing preventable medical errors should be the priority.

Pay-for-performance programs growing in PA

More insurers are trying out programs that tie their reimbursement rates to patient care outcomes.

Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine hope to up PA’s physician retention rate

Doctor retention is important; with the population aging, chronic health problems rising, and the number of physicians declining.