Pennsylvania physicians say demand for charitable care has increased

A report publicly released today by the Institute for Good Medicine at the Pennsylvania Medical Society suggests demand for charitable care provided by physicians increased significantly in the past year, and that their ability to meet the demand may be unsustainable.

According to the Good Medicine 2009 report, 57 percent of Pennsylvania physicians surveyed in a statewide poll say the demand on their time for charitable care has increased. Furthermore, 62 percent say that they've reached an unsustainable level. The 2009 report, conducted among member physicians across all specialties, had a 4.6 percent margin of error.

"Last year, our research indicated a strikingly high level of charitable care provided by Pennsylvania Medical Society members," said Peter Lund, MD, founder of the Institute for Good Medicine. "Even though our physician members are doing more for the uninsured and underinsured, many feel they're reaching their limit."

Dr. Lund points out that last year's report noted that 80 percent of Pennsylvania Medical Society physicians donate their time and/or resources, for an estimated value of $400 million.

"With the state of economy, I'm not surprised by this year's findings, and clearly this could signal problems ahead," said Dr. Lund, a practicing urologist from Erie, Pa.

The Good Medicine 2009 Report also says that physicians believe the greatest need within the health care industry is educating the public to take more responsibility for their own health, while 62 percent of those surveyed say this is the most challenging issue in their practices.

"Educating patients about taking more responsibility for their own health may ease the burden in the long run, but it's not an immediate solution," said James A. Goodyear, president of the Pennsylvania Medical Society. "Clearly, our physicians are doing more and more to help uninsured and underinsured patients, but they're reaching their limit. However, society members will continue to work tirelessly to improve our patients' lives by championing causes that will help them lead healthy, productive lives."