MORE MASS RESIGNATIONS....now its MDs...

[-jt]

From: News and Views | Beyond the City |

Friday, August 03, 2001

Doctors Fleeing Buffalo Hosp

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Buffalo, NY - The entire staff of radiologists at Children's Hospital has decided to quit, and officials fear a national shortage will make the specialized doctors difficult to replace.

The mass resignation was brought on by complaints of overwork, the same concerns that have led to two nursing strikes at hospitals in the region and unrest at two others.........

"This is a crisis of the first magnitude," Dr. Steven Lana, a pediatrician, told The Buffalo News in yesterday's editions. "I've got serious concerns about how the breach can be filled."........

In the past few years, dozens of other specialists, including a pediatric neurosurgeon and pediatric heart surgeon, have left Children's Hospital, which is regularly cited by U.S. News & World Report as one of the nation's best........

Officials at Kaleida Health said they will move as quickly as possible to fill the gap temporarily, perhaps by using radiologists who generally treat adults for common pediatric examinations and sending more difficult cases to pediatric radiologists in another city..........

They also hope one or two of the six radiologists planning to leave at the end of the month will decide to stay..........

"We will be able to keep things running. We would prefer an established group of pediatric radiologists. But in the meantime, we will do what we can," said Dr. Michael Noe, vice president of medical affairs at Kaleida Health.........

Nineteen radiologists were on the staff of the group affiliated with Children's Hospital when it merged with five other area hospitals and two outpatient radiology offices in 1998 to form Kaleida Health. Radiologists examine X-rays and CT and MRI scans and perform diagnostic procedures............

Doctors said a combination of factors has dwindled the number to six. With a national shortage of radiologists, the doctors regularly entertain offers from hospitals elsewhere. Some have taken other jobs, while others have retired.........

"We get letters every day from other cities where we can get paid more to work under less stressful conditions," said one of the pediatric radiologists, whose name was withheld by the newspaper..........

The departing radiologists have signed on to provide services for Buffalo Medical Group, a large multi-specialty practice, in addition to their other radiology work outside Children's Hospital............

Noe said the radiologists approached Kaleida several months ago seeking help, but that the mass resignation was a surprise.

http://www.nydailynews.com/2001-08-03/News_and_Views/Beyond_the_City/a-120536.asp?last6days=1