Charleston, W.Va., Hospital Credits Tort Reform with Increased Doctor Interest

From the Charleston Gazette March 27, 2003, Thursday
Copyright 2003 Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News
Copyright 2003 The Charleston Gazette

Only four weeks have passed since Gov. Bob Wise signed medical malpractice legislation into law, but the director of Charleston Area Medical Center’s physician recruitment effort said Wednesday she’s already seeing a positive response among doctors.

Shannon White-Metz shared a report on physician recruitment in 2003 with CAMC’s board of trustees at their monthly meeting. Ten new doctors have signed contracts in 2003, White-Metz said, and four more have verbally committed. In 2002, only 21 new physicians came aboard.

Five internal medicine physicians have either signed contracts or said they’re coming to West Virginia. Other pending or signed commitments include two neurologists, a reproductive endocrinologist, and an orthopedic surgeon.

An ear, nose and throat doctor from Florida with 15 years experience will start practicing here in a few months and said he was impressed with how West Virginia handled the medical malpractice issue, according to White-Metz.

Since the start of the year, 93 physicians have sent their curriculum vitae, or rsums, to CAMC. The system received 180 during all of 2002. Thirty-four doctors have interviewed since January, compared to 92 during the past year.

Dr. L. Clark Hansbarger also reported good news on the medical education front. CAMC did well on March 21 — Match Day — when hospitals across the country chose residents based on a hospital needs and student preferences.

“Political activity probably persuaded some West Virginia students to stay in the state,” said Hansbarger, associate vice president for health sciences and dean of WVU Charleston Division.

CAMC CEO David Ramsey said there were probably as many as 100 West Virginians finishing educational programs in the Mountain State or elsewhere every year who would consider calling the state home.

In other CAMC news: Despite fewer admissions than expected last month, CAMC made about $ 300,000 in February. The amount is less than the $ 1.5 million projected for the month. Larry Hudson, chief financial officer, said a 4 percent drop in admissions compared to February 2002 accounted for most of the difference.

The renovation of the emergency room at CAMC’s General Hospital was one reason for the drop in admissions there, Ramsey said. The work should be done by June 1.

Other hospitals outside of CAMC have reported similar declines, Ramsey said. Trustees approved a motion in support of nine CAMC employees who have been called up to serve in the armed forces. Les Melton, vice president for human resources, said about 40 employees could be called up.