EastWest Gal
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
I need advice on what to do next. Since I "retired" from my old position in September, our medical group is unravelling. We are part of a national company, staffing various hospital based physician practices. Each group runs "independently" except for the following: 1. Salaries are set by corporate. If we exceed "X" revenue, we split a bonus amount with corporate. They rake in quite a bit and share with shareholders, executives, and the like. For five years no one has seen a raise, the argument being it would affect our bonus. No one got a bonus last year. The corporations profits have been growing by 12-13% per year for several years. Corporate folks determine the number of nurse practitioners and physicians we can have in the group. They say a full time physician should work 60 hrs per week (2 years ago they said 55, and my salary is based on a 40 hr work week), but they neglect vacation time, maternity leave, bereavement leave, committee work, practice improvements, etc. in their calculations. I sent a letter full of math to regional showing the fallacy of their arguments and their response was "I need to change my tone". So we have been chronically understaffed for several years.
I retired 9/12/14 and three days later they needed me to work in a very laid back side practice that was also falling apart, because they hired the wrong doctor for the job. So I stepped in, worked 2-3 weeks/month and made more than before. I told them I was done at the end of the year. I was offered triple pay for the holidays, so I did that. I was offered to be kept on as an independent contractor, if there is a need. I don't mind, as the pay is excellent. I can use a little extra cash until DS is up and out of the home.
Out of 8.5 FTE physician positions, I retired and now 4 more have quit or are quitting, including one who is a very good friend and will be moving out of state. The director inserted by the regional office is cheerful, but is socially inappropriate, and not a very conscientious physician. I see him has a really big jerk and a lawsuit waiting to happen.
As expected, today he called begging for help, for me to fill in at the old toxic position, starting in April, when everyone leaves. I'm supposed to meet with him tomorrow.
What it feels like is he is trying to get me to help bail him out. I told him maybe. I told him he needs to look at what is going wrong. I know what's going wrong. He replaced my friend who was liked and respected by nurses and partners alike. His medical care is at times downright scary. But he thinks he's God's give to managing medical practices and the higher ups love him.
I said initially that I could probably do it, but the more I think about it, I feel sick to my stomach at going back there. It turns out that 2 days that he asked me to fill in in February are his days scheduled to work, so the whole group is really pissed at him.
I think I'm ready to confront him in a major way when we meet tomorrow and tell him exactly what I think. He already knows I think portions of his work are substandard and he's been trying to kiss up to me. It might burn bridges but it might help if someone finally tells him what a jerk he is being. As I am supposed to be retired, I have nothing to lose. Maybe then the group can rebuild, but it will need different leadership.
What do you think? Sorry this is so long-winded.
I retired 9/12/14 and three days later they needed me to work in a very laid back side practice that was also falling apart, because they hired the wrong doctor for the job. So I stepped in, worked 2-3 weeks/month and made more than before. I told them I was done at the end of the year. I was offered triple pay for the holidays, so I did that. I was offered to be kept on as an independent contractor, if there is a need. I don't mind, as the pay is excellent. I can use a little extra cash until DS is up and out of the home.
Out of 8.5 FTE physician positions, I retired and now 4 more have quit or are quitting, including one who is a very good friend and will be moving out of state. The director inserted by the regional office is cheerful, but is socially inappropriate, and not a very conscientious physician. I see him has a really big jerk and a lawsuit waiting to happen.
As expected, today he called begging for help, for me to fill in at the old toxic position, starting in April, when everyone leaves. I'm supposed to meet with him tomorrow.
What it feels like is he is trying to get me to help bail him out. I told him maybe. I told him he needs to look at what is going wrong. I know what's going wrong. He replaced my friend who was liked and respected by nurses and partners alike. His medical care is at times downright scary. But he thinks he's God's give to managing medical practices and the higher ups love him.
I said initially that I could probably do it, but the more I think about it, I feel sick to my stomach at going back there. It turns out that 2 days that he asked me to fill in in February are his days scheduled to work, so the whole group is really pissed at him.
I think I'm ready to confront him in a major way when we meet tomorrow and tell him exactly what I think. He already knows I think portions of his work are substandard and he's been trying to kiss up to me. It might burn bridges but it might help if someone finally tells him what a jerk he is being. As I am supposed to be retired, I have nothing to lose. Maybe then the group can rebuild, but it will need different leadership.
What do you think? Sorry this is so long-winded.
