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Three questions
By KRIS HUNDLEY, Times Staff Writer Q: How do you set priorities among the issues raised by your members?The tort reform we're trying to get through the legislature right now is the most critical issue I've seen since I started here in 1986. Physicians expect their association to help solve critical issues that have an impact on their profession and the quality of care for their patients. And the fact is we need a tort reform package passed or my physicians feel the crisis, which is worse in South Florida than central Florida, will definitely get worse. If malpractice rates continue to increase at the level they're increasing now, there won't be enough doctors in Florida to take care of patients. Q: Organizing doctors has been said to be as difficult as herding cats. Has that changed?Physicians are in unity now more than ever because the issues now are so critical. Doctors are so focused on what they do, caring for patients doesn't leave a whole lot of room to address the things they are not trained to address. Now they have to worry more about the business side. Q: How do you get the general public to empathize with well-paid doctors over the price of malpractice insurance?We're asking our physicians to educate their patients as they see them, to communicate one on one. It's a huge request for physicians who don't have enough time in their day, but the biggest issue we face is educating the community. Accessibility to services is not an issue now, but it certainly will be in the future. Physicians are having to alter their practices, leave the area or retire early strictly due to the increase in malpractice rates.
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From the Times Business report
From the AP
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