Paul Rein, DO, serves as an Anesthesiologist and Adjunct Professor at the College of William and Mary
On May 25th, Dr. Rein will serve on the panel "Price Transparency in Hospitals and Health Systems" at Becker's Hospital Review 11th Annual Meeting. As part of an ongoing series, Becker's is talking to healthcare leaders who plan to speak at the conference, which will take place on May 24-26, 2021 in Chicago.
To learn more about the conference and Dr. Rein's session, click here.
Question: What one lesson you learned early in your career has helped you lead in healthcare?
Paul Rein: I began my career as a GP in solo practice. I learned then the importance of doing the right thing first and foremost. After returning to do a residency in Anesthesiology and going into private practice
that philosophy was enhanced. For 20 years I led a private practice group in a busy Community/teaching Hospital. As the years went on I would see physicians and administrators placing making money ahead of doing the right thing. Thus my philosophy: There is plenty of money to be made when you do the right thing, but when you put making money ahead of doing the right thing you will do some bad things to make money.
Q: Where do you go for inspiration and fresh ideas?
PR: That’s is a simple but complex question. Quite simply I keep an open mind. I stay open to changing the ways I practice both medically and financially. Keeping an open mind, listening to experts, and not being a stubborn person leads one to openness and the willingness to change practice and when needed philosophy.
Q: Healthcare has had calls for disruption, innovation, and transformation for years now. Do you feel we are seeing that change? Why or why not?
PR: I do believe we are seeing change, innovation, and transformation. However, do I believe we are making the changes that are not in the best interest of patients and providers. Two of the changes made that in reality are not for the benefit of the patient and provider are the rushed into ACA and the growth of large multi-specialty groups owned by healthcare systems. The ACA has put in place policies that are often unaffordable in the case a family needs care. Regarding large groups owned by healthcare systems, they have placed physicians under control of administrators, taken away many of the real doctor-patient relationships and by doing so have brought into play the term burnout.