Comments on: 1) Do you really know what it cost to run a medical office?

By: retired47

retired47 — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 19:58:22 +0000

1. Yes, I know how much it cost to run my solo urology practice. About 60% of my collections went to current overhead (salaries, staff benefits, medical insurance, business insurance, malpractice insurance, supplies, etc). Another 10-15% went for debt service. 2-5 % went for various state and local goverment taxes.

2. Malpractice rates vary greatly based on speciality, prior events and whether the practice is mature. My rates were about 30 K/year.

3. Types of supplies vary greatly amoung different specialities. For example prostate biopsy needles (single use) are around $20 each. This procedure also uses lidocaine with a single use injection needle ($12-15). The maintence agreement of the ultrasound equipment is about $10,000/year. Aquaous lidocaine for cystoscopy is $10-20 per use. Cancer drugs tend to be very expensive. You have to stock sterile gloves, exam gloves, blood drawing equipment, UA supplies, emergency equipment. Front office supplies count too. It is a long list.

4. Difficult question to answer. New tests are being developed. Screening and follow-up tests. Patient driven testing. Insurance company driven testing (prior to ordering more expensive tests or treatment). Liability driven testing.

5. Never

6. In my case (prior to retirement) - office hours 36 to 40 hours/week, night and weekend call averaging 12-18 hours/week (with frequent phone calls and drives to the hospital). At least 5 hours a week reading journals, conferences etc. At least 4 hours per week doing morning hospital rounds. Inpatient consults 2-5 hours per week.

7. Frequently.

8. Yes, so?

By: Troy

Troy — Sat, 18 Apr 2009 11:41:21 +0000

Don’t forget the people who are uninsured and can’t pay their bills, that adds a lot to the cost for everyone.

By: cuban friend

cuban friend — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 12:21:03 +0000

Lady, I am a Physician and I can tell you that it costs more than you can believe. There are ways around some of the costs for disposible supplies, but mostly people have no clue and think that doctors are gouging them. You can actually make more money by not taking insurance. Some tests are performed to CYA, mostly though because they are necessary. Under the direction of an Insurance company’s nurse, alot of tests are performed because they company won’t pay for the necessary tests until the un-necessary tests are done. Keep in mind that drug costs are also high, not because of the physician or even the attorneys, but because our system supports the pharmaceutical company’s giving meds at reduced cost to countries with socialized medicine. To provide free or cheap medicine to half the world, the company’s must milk the other half… Simple economics. Don’t forget the costs of paying all of the government taxes for all of the employees. Physicians can’t hire illegals like construction companies. Almost everyone in the office needs a piece of paper on the wall. If Americans want to bitch about the high cost of medical care, then bitch at the government and the middlemen. Doctors get 15% of the medical costs. Hospitals get almost 30%. Pharmacies get almost 30%. Who are the bad guys? The real winners are the Insurance companies who dictate who gets what when and how much!The government feeds this

By: Nurse Annie

Nurse Annie — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 04:51:33 +0000

have a clue: I’ll go line by line.

costs to run a medical office include the salaries of all who work there. Big consideration.

the cost of malpractice insurance is putting many practices at risk; or driving up costs, or having docs switch specialties. Many OBs no longer deliver babies, because of the high cost of malpractice insurance.

the cost of medicals supplies: HIGH, marked up (many), yes, but there are necessary office supplies, too.

More tests are performed because of our high rate of litigation in this country; docs have to cover their butts. American public is ALSO to blame for demanding the tests be done.

Many times people say they’ll sue, but when push comes to shove, there’s not grounds for a suit.

Physicians work a heck of a lot of hours; even when officially off duty, they read their journals and are on-call for their practice.

Lawyers, IMHO, by advertising like this, further the litigious society we live in.

By: vicky v

vicky v — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 04:54:30 +0000

i dont know abt it
but i see ur picture u look really sweet and sexy
can u send me a pic of urs full size

By: johncondo2001

johncondo2001 — Sat, 11 Apr 2009 06:17:28 +0000

go to the small business administration for help