Posted: 04/02/92 14:28

Type: Regular Message
Subject: HCHP ANNUAL REPORT
From: MINGALL - MICHAEL INGALL MD
To: PMATTING - Patrick Mattingly, M.D.

This message was sent to the following destinations:
1 User:PMATTING - Patrick Mattingly, M.D.
2 Group:AMD (Site) Associate Medical Directors
3 Group:CHIEFS (Site) Chiefs of Departments

I WANT TO SHARE WITH YOU SOME OF MY REACTIONS TO THE HCHP ANNUAL REPORT WH I CH I RECEIVED TODAY,

IT IS HIGH QUALITY, PROFESSIONAL IN APPEARANCE, SLICK, MAKES A GOOD SURFACE IMPRESSION, AND IS A GOOD EYE-GRABBER. I WOULD GUESS THAT IT IS ALSO VERY EXPENSIVE.

THE REPORT IS CHOCK-FULL OF THOUGHT-PROVOKING AND STIMULATING INFORMATION AND IDEAS .

I AM CONCERNED, HOWEVER, ABOUT THE IMPACT THAT TALKING ABOUT OURSELVES AS "PLAYERS" IN THE "HEALTH CARE GAME" WILL HAVE ON US, ON OUR FELLOW PLAYERS, ON OUR OPPONENTS, AND ON OUR FANS .

I BEGAN AS A DOCTOR, IN THE HEALTH PROFESSION.

THEN, I BECAME PART OF THE HEALTH CARE DELIVERY SYSTEM.

THEN, I BECAME PART OF THE HEALTH CARE INDUSTRY.

THEN, THE HEALTH CARE INDUSTRY EVOLVED INTO ARNOLD RELMAN'S "MEDICAL INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX" (SEE HIS EXCELLENT ARTICLE IN THE MARCH 1992 ISSUE OF "ATLANTIC").

TODAY, THANKS TO THE NEW CONCEPT IN OUR ANNUAL REPORT, I BECOME A PLAYER IN THE HEALTH CARE GAME.

AND TOMORROW, WILL I BECOME A PART OF THE "HEALTH CARE RACKET?"

IN OTHER WORDS, I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE DEPROFESSIONALIZATION OF MEDICINE. ETHICS, AT LEAST IN RHODE ISLAND, SEEM TO BE MAKING A COMEBACK. TALKING ABOUT OURSELVES AS PLAYERS IN A GAME, EVEN WHEN IT'S A GIMMICK, LEADS US AWAY FROM PROFESSIONALISM, CARING, A HIGHER CALLING, ETHICAL BEHAVIOR, ALTRUISM, AND ALL THAT OTHER STUFF THAT I THINK IS STILL RELEVANT TO MEDICAL CARE.

LIKE EVERYONE ELSE, I ENJOY A GOOD GIMMICK, A CLEVER STROKE OF THE PEN, AND BRILLIANT REPARTEE. I FEAR, HOWEVER, THAT THE ANNUAL REPORT, WITH ITS CONCEPT OF PLAYERS AND GAMES, TRIVIALIZES A VERY IMPORTANT ISSUE FOR US, OUR PATIENTS, AND OUR ORGANIZATION.

I HOPE THAT YOU WILL PASS MY COMMENTS UP THE LADDER, NOT DOWN THE CHUTE (REMEMBER "CHUTES AND LADDERS?" IT WAS A GREAT GAME) .