FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
May 18, 2005

FOR INFORMATION CONTACT:
Laurie Peacock
312-580-6497
(cell) 312-608-3620

Not a “Banner” Day for Medical Care in Illinois:

Citing Grim Survey Findings, Medical Society Urges General Assembly to Stop Political Games and Act Immediately; Unveils New Banners to Highlight the Loss of Illinois MDs

Chicago – A new poll of Illinois medical doctors has identified escalating gaps in access to physician care throughout the state. The Illinois State Medical Society’s mail survey of all Illinois physicians was conducted during the first quarter of 2005 to measure the impact of the medical liability crisis on physician availability. Over 1,000 physicians of diverse medical specialties and locations responded to the survey.

“The findings underscore the growing urgency of this lawsuit crisis, and the need for our elected officials to act immediately to solve it,” said Craig A. Backs, M.D., ISMS president. “House Bill 4074, a reform proposal put forth by House Democrat leaders, is now under consideration in Springfield. Those very same leaders are tolerating a stream of dilatory amendments, when they should instead be encouraging strong, swift action,” he lamented. “What’s going on here? This state can’t afford to play politics with Illinois patients’ access to medical care.”

Today, ISMS and ISMIE Mutual Insurance Company are hanging Keep Doctors in Illinois banners on their shared headquarters building located just across from Chicago’s Millennium Park. The goal is to raise awareness of Illinois’ loss of physicians.

SURVEY FINDINGS

• 49% of physicians who responded to the survey reported they are considering retiring early, have retired already, or are leaving Illinois specifically due to the medical liability crisis.
  
  
• 62% of responding doctors have made changes to the way they practice medicine, to reduce their liability exposure. Changes most often cited were the elimination of certain “high risk” procedures, and the practice of “defensive medicine” such as ordering extra tests to guard against the increased risk of liability. For OB/GYNs and family physicians, the most often cited high risk procedure eliminated was delivering babies. Many OB/GYNs who continue to offer OB services will no longer perform vaginal births after Caesarean (VBAC).
  
  
• 55% of responding physicians reported that patient access to certain medical services and procedures is limited or no longer available in their regions because of medical liability. Obstetrics, neurosurgery and other surgical specialties were the most often cited to be limited or not available at all.
  
  
• 50% of responding physicians reported difficulties recruiting new doctors to practice in Illinois due to medical liability concerns. Vacancies taking several years to fill are a common occurrence in several regions of the state, and recruiting problems exist among nearly all medical specialty disciplines.

Of those physicians stating an intention to leave, most cited Indiana and Wisconsin as their likely destinations. Both neighboring states have strong medical liability laws, including caps on non-economic damage awards. A Chicago area otolaryngologist contemplating a move to Indiana stated his medical liability insurance would be one-third the cost of what he is currently paying in Illinois.

A young, northern Illinois family physician still considering whether to leave the state expressed utter dismay with Illinois’ medical litigation climate, saying, “I have been in Illinois for 15 months and this is all it took to decimate 20 years of passion to be a doctor.” Another downstate rural doctor reported having to sell portions of her retirement investments to keep what she describes as a “successful practice” afloat. She does not want to leave her hometown and is considering leaving medicine in her early 40’s due to the crisis.

“The feedback from this survey demonstrates a disturbing trend in the availability of quality medical care for Illinois’ patients,” stated Dr. Backs. “As our elected officials debate this issue in Springfield, one hard fact is resoundingly clear: unless meaningful legislation passes during this General Assembly session, access to care is headed for a meltdown.”

www.isms.org