FP Report -- March 1999
C-section privileges
To the editor:
I'm writing in response to the article, "What's it take to get C-section privileges?!" (FP Report, February 1999)
As a fourth-year medical student pursuing a career in family medicine, I have heard, on numerous occasions, of graduates of accredited family practice residency programs finding it difficult to obtain hospital privileges for certain procedures. I've heard the difficulty is more common in the urban setting. I'm offended that a graduate of "ABC" residency program with 70 "widget" procedures (as primary) is somehow more experienced than a graduate of "XYZ" residency program with 70 "widget" procedures (as primary) regardless of specialty training. It is my opinion that the Sonora Community Hospital and the OB-Gyns mentioned in the article are not only violating the antitrust laws, but also discriminating against the outsiders (FPs).
I realize that OB-Gyns and other specialties feel threatened by the competition family physicians create, but that's what the capitalist system in the United States is based on. I believe expectant mothers should be able to choose between an OB-Gyn who not only will take care of their pregnancy and delivery, but may take care of the newborn as well. I'm sure there is no debate about one OB-Gyn versus another receiving privileges, as long as they have achieved adequate numbers and experience to support their request.
I have a feeling that as the population of specialists reaches saturation levels, more and more primary care physicians, especially family physicians, will have increasing difficulty obtaining privileges. Family physicians need to band together now and not take a back seat, to prevent this from happening in the future.
STEVEN M. KOERTH, MSIV
UT-Houston Medical School
FP Report is published by the AAFP News Department. Copyright © 1999 by American Academy of Family Physicians.
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