|
medpundit |
||
 |
 |
|
Monday, October 21, 2002Of combined high-risk specialties, including orthopedics, obstetrics/gynecology and neurosurgery, up to 87 percent of residents and fellows trained in Pennsylvania are settling outside of the state, according to the Pennsylvania Orthopedic Society. There are 30 percent fewer neurosurgeons in Pennsylvania than in 1998, according to the neurosurgical specialty society. Pottstown neurosurgeon Gregory Lignelli retired three years ago, and a replacement surgeon has not yet been recruited. His partner, Dr. Richard C. Mendel, moved to South Carolina in August 2001. His insurance premiums are now about $22,000 annually. In Pottstown, insurance cost him at least $100,000 more. From 1997 to 2000, the number of obstetricians in Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Lehigh, Montgomery, Northampton and Philadelphia counties decreased by 18 percent even before malpractice premiums began their 21 to 60 percent increases in January 2001, according to figures from the Pennsylvania Medical Malpractice CAT Fund and the US Census Bureau. The number of orthopedic surgeons from the same area and time frame decreased 20 percent. posted by Sydney on 10/21/2002 05:56:00 AM 0 comments 0 Comments: |
|
