According to the report, hospital officials say paying physicians for being on-call — even five years after services are rendered — will help recruit and retain physicians. But investments made for physicians who leave before those five years are up would remain in the fund, and the hospital’s orthopedic surgeons — three of whom recently changed their privileges so they would not longer be consulted or brought in for fracture surgeries after hours — said direct payment would be a better alternative, according to the report.
Physicians say disagreements with the hospital also concentrate on patient care improvements. The hospital and North Country Orthopaedic Group are meeting soon to discuss issues between the two parties.
Nationally, 87 percent of orthopedic surgeons are paid directly and immediately by hospitals for on-call services.
Read the Watertown Daily Times report on Samaritan Medical Center.
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