“Cath labs” are where heart doctors diagnose heart patients and perform procedures such as installing stents and ballooning arteries.
Patients of non-WellStar cardiologists who need such procedures can either go to another hospital that does allow their doctor, or be referred to a WellStar cardiologist to perform the procedure.
This week, WellStar chief executive Reynold Jennings wrote to members of the medical staff to explain the move.
The decision was made “to ensure consistency in processes and standardization of protocols, and to provide our patients with the highest quality of care,” Jennings wrote, and “is simply good business for WellStar.” “Virtually all of our competitors, including Emory University Hospital, Piedmont Hospital, and St. Joseph’s Hospital operate on this model. Protecting our competitive position in the marketplace is vital to our future success,” he wrote.
Independent doctors, though, fear the move puts their businesses in jeopardy. Those who aren’t cardiologists wonder what will be next.
State Rep. Sharon Cooper, an east Cobb Republican who is a nurse and serves as chair of the House health and human services committee, is also concerned about the change.
“Any time patient access to the physician of their choice is threatened, I have real issues with that,” Cooper said. “This would seem to decrease competition, and I believe competition in the health care market brings down costs. This is not something I have heard that other hospitals are doing. I would certainly hope that the new CEO, Reynold Jennings, would reach out to me to discuss the issue.”
The Journal learned of the change from doctors, though none would speak on the record. One cardiologist in west Cobb said the change threatens to put him out of business.
“At this moment my biggest concern is the viability of my practice and the best care for my patients,” the cardiologist said. “I’m not very happy that I’m being pushed in a corner. A lot of physicians in this community are very concerned that after they spent all this time and money investing in this community they may be kicked out.”
A WellStar spokesman insists that the system is not trying to force any physicians to affiliate with the system.
“Most of the physicians/groups that have joined the WellStar Medical Group (WMG) approached WellStar and not vice versa,” spokesman Keith Bowermaster said. “WellStar strongly supports parity with all physicians — both community physicians and WMG physicians. This decision was about the cath labs and only the cath labs, and was made based on WellStar’s judgment of the best way to run the cath labs and also based on the competitive situation in that service line. There is no question that standardizing protocols and procedures will improve efficiency and outcomes in the cath labs.”
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And you may think that you can pay someone $100,000 to be CEO of a huge organization, but again you'd be misguided. Talented people require money, it is at the basis of your argument of having "free market discipline of competition". These people work in a free market and it requires "giant pay" (as you put it) to attract them because it is a free market discipline of competition at work.
The fact that you spew your slanted views without considering anything in reality is one thing. But not understanding your OWN writing is a bit much.
2. If all you folks are so unhappy with Wellstar just do your homework and see that Wellstar's facilities are owned by Cobb County -- just pressure your politicians to do their job and insist on a little oversight (this fact would be reported by the MDJ but for point 1 above).
And secondly, Randell Bentley did not "appoint" Otis Brumby III to the board, he was on the board prior to Bentley becoming CEO.
Funny how facts elude your comments.
Considering none of you all run a hospital system that employs 11,000 people nor do you even acknowledge that all other hospital systems operate this functionality in the same manner, you all seem to have a lot to say.
Shame on WellStar - and the over $100 million dollars of unreimbursed care they provide each year. Those jerks!
Get a life people and to the folks at the paper, find something other than your world class healthcare system to pick on. This is getting old!
Another note of interest - when CVM was purchased by WS - one of the cardiac tests (nuclear stress test) increased in cost over $2000. Also, 2 of my non-wellstar doctor's practices had to relocate as they were not given the option to renew their lease....one was located in the office building on Cherry Street.
I feel that WS has too much of a monopoly in the Atlanta area and too much influence in the state as a whole. One of my friends who is a RN in another state - is not allowed to sit for the RN exam in GA unless she does over 600 clinical hours in GA (not paid) because WS lobbied and won to have her on-line school banned as an acceptable nursing school in the state of GA.
Also, WS is good at covering up their secrets....
(Kennestone Wellstar) was a not for profit hospital.
Sounds like a Pelosi, Reed and Obama plan.
Thank you Wellstar.
I guess door to balloon time is only a quality measure if you belong to this most deceptive and fork-tongued system.
extreme danger.