THE AUDACITY OF DOCTORS: Local Physicians Seek Hope In Political Involvement
East Setauket -- Members of the medical staff at John T. Mather Memorial and St. Charles Hospitals are invited Paul Newell, a Democratic candidate for NYS Assembly in lower Manhattan out to Long Island in August to an open meeting of their Medical Liability Reform Committee to discuss his platform on health care reform. Newell, a community organizer and Barak Obama delegate, is running in what Errol Louis, of the NY Daily News, last week called “the single most important political contest in New York this year.”
But why would a primary race involving a district where they cannot even vote concern physicians on the east end of Long Island? Newell, running against NYS Assembly speaker Sheldon Silver, promises results for his downtown constituents, and by opposing Silver, long the second most powerful figure in NYS government, greater transparency in Albany. In a letter addressed to all New York Doctors, Newell cited skyrocketing malpractice insurance costs as a factor in the “grave danger facing health care in New York State…pushing care out of the reach of working New Yorkers and forcing many doctors out of the profession.”
Christopher Beatty, a general surgeon and Newell supporter since meeting him at a similar meeting hosted by physicians at Southampton Hospital, understands this crisis well. “I had to close my solo-private practice of in Port Jefferson after 32 years. I was taking out loans just to keep up with escalating costs. I couldn’t afford to stay in business on my own, but I wasn’t ready to retire.” Beatty works for a larger group now, General Surgery Associates, LLC, of East Setauket, NY, and offered to host this meeting in his own back yard, inviting over 600 local physicians.
“Ten years ago, you couldn’t have asked our (medical staff) leadership to name any of our legislators, much less who was running against them. Our leaders today are motivated, energetic and taking the time to understand the issues,” said Harvey Kolker, pediatrician in Miller Place, at a Mather medical staff meeting in July.
Alenn Ott, an Obstetrician/Gynecologist in Southampton, spoke kindly of Newell at Peconic Bay Medical Center’s packed medical staff meeting and urged doctors there to get involved, “I met with him myself, and he is an intelligent and committed young idealist…This man has a chance, especially this year when so many people are disgusted by the spectacle of New York politics. We can’t vote for Paul Newell, but we can support him.”
Maria Basile, a surgeon in Port Jefferson and co-chairman of the Medical Liability Reform Committee, states “The real story here is that physicians, who once thought it was enough to study, work hard, and take good care of their patients are finding themselves more and more involved politically. Facing unsustainable increases in malpractice costs and continued cuts in Medicare and managed care reimbursements, doctors are forced to understand how the current system must be changed if they want stay in business.”
Referring to the Medical Society of the State of New York’s Legislative Day rally in Albany, she added, “Over 100 local doctors boarded buses at four o’clock in the morning on March fourth to join 2,000 of our colleagues and rally on the State House steps in Albany. Since then we have been petitioning our local legislators, visiting and calling their offices, discussing these issues with our patients. Our medical society leaders have been advocating tirelessly in Albany on our behalf. We’re learning here at home to get involved like the concerned citizens we all should be.”
“There was so much local excitement and motivation in the medical community following the rally in Albany. There was so much hope that our voices were heard and something could be done,” said Brian McGinley, an orthopedic surgeon from Port Jefferson and Basile’s co-chair on the committee. “And then…nothing. We understand that legislative reform doesn’t happen overnight. At this point we are just looking for small victories, something to show that we are making some progress, going in the right direction.”
East Setauket -- Members of the medical staff at John T. Mather Memorial and St. Charles Hospitals are invited Paul Newell, a Democratic candidate for NYS Assembly in lower Manhattan out to Long Island in August to an open meeting of their Medical Liability Reform Committee to discuss his platform on health care reform. Newell, a community organizer and Barak Obama delegate, is running in what Errol Louis, of the NY Daily News, last week called “the single most important political contest in New York this year.”
But why would a primary race involving a district where they cannot even vote concern physicians on the east end of Long Island? Newell, running against NYS Assembly speaker Sheldon Silver, promises results for his downtown constituents, and by opposing Silver, long the second most powerful figure in NYS government, greater transparency in Albany. In a letter addressed to all New York Doctors, Newell cited skyrocketing malpractice insurance costs as a factor in the “grave danger facing health care in New York State…pushing care out of the reach of working New Yorkers and forcing many doctors out of the profession.”
Christopher Beatty, a general surgeon and Newell supporter since meeting him at a similar meeting hosted by physicians at Southampton Hospital, understands this crisis well. “I had to close my solo-private practice of in Port Jefferson after 32 years. I was taking out loans just to keep up with escalating costs. I couldn’t afford to stay in business on my own, but I wasn’t ready to retire.” Beatty works for a larger group now, General Surgery Associates, LLC, of East Setauket, NY, and offered to host this meeting in his own back yard, inviting over 600 local physicians.
“Ten years ago, you couldn’t have asked our (medical staff) leadership to name any of our legislators, much less who was running against them. Our leaders today are motivated, energetic and taking the time to understand the issues,” said Harvey Kolker, pediatrician in Miller Place, at a Mather medical staff meeting in July.
Alenn Ott, an Obstetrician/Gynecologist in Southampton, spoke kindly of Newell at Peconic Bay Medical Center’s packed medical staff meeting and urged doctors there to get involved, “I met with him myself, and he is an intelligent and committed young idealist…This man has a chance, especially this year when so many people are disgusted by the spectacle of New York politics. We can’t vote for Paul Newell, but we can support him.”
Maria Basile, a surgeon in Port Jefferson and co-chairman of the Medical Liability Reform Committee, states “The real story here is that physicians, who once thought it was enough to study, work hard, and take good care of their patients are finding themselves more and more involved politically. Facing unsustainable increases in malpractice costs and continued cuts in Medicare and managed care reimbursements, doctors are forced to understand how the current system must be changed if they want stay in business.”
Referring to the Medical Society of the State of New York’s Legislative Day rally in Albany, she added, “Over 100 local doctors boarded buses at four o’clock in the morning on March fourth to join 2,000 of our colleagues and rally on the State House steps in Albany. Since then we have been petitioning our local legislators, visiting and calling their offices, discussing these issues with our patients. Our medical society leaders have been advocating tirelessly in Albany on our behalf. We’re learning here at home to get involved like the concerned citizens we all should be.”
“There was so much local excitement and motivation in the medical community following the rally in Albany. There was so much hope that our voices were heard and something could be done,” said Brian McGinley, an orthopedic surgeon from Port Jefferson and Basile’s co-chair on the committee. “And then…nothing. We understand that legislative reform doesn’t happen overnight. At this point we are just looking for small victories, something to show that we are making some progress, going in the right direction.”
