Way back when I started in practice I joined another physician in a small office. An old-time doctor’s office. No computer. Everything was handled on paper, including the billing. People answered the phone. I’ve always been proud that I run on time, but there were doctors in the neighborhood who thought nothing of making their patients wait for two hours. There were few standards. Doctor A would treat his patients with diabetes with medicine B; doctor C would use regimen D; nobody complained. We muddled along. Health care was definitely more personalized, but quality was uneven and sometimes questionable.
You don’t see these situations any more in large cities. There are very few incompetent doctors. There are standards of treatment that are generally accepted. Computers have made vast amounts of information available. We’re just scratching the surface of what they’ll be able to accomplish. It’s relatively inexpensive to study genes. Within five years there will be a fairly good understanding of what diseases each and every human being on Earth is susceptible to; we can find out the minute they are born.
Large corporations have been in the thick of this progress. Pharmaceutical firms have come up with fantastic new drugs that treat fatal or crippling illnesses. Device manufacturers have made it possible for you to have an internal organ removed, or fixed, without the need for extensive surgery. Hospitals have gone from charitable endeavors who served a community to massive organizations that control a large percentage of health care delivery in any city. Health insurance companies generate huge amounts of information that is used to find otherwise unavailable clues about medicine side effects or inadequate care.
All of this change costs money. Because people value their health above all else, the new era has also generated massive profits. A profession whose guiding principle was to serve has turned into an industry where the key to survival is to generate enough income to please the head administrators and stockholders. Green is the color of progress.
More than twenty years ago I decided to give up my quest to be independent of these behemoths. I clearly saw that computers were going to be indispensable. I had no technical skill. It had become very difficult and time consuming to have employees. There were many regulations. Once a month I’d hear horror stories about doctors whose office managers had embezzled money from them. Insurance companies paid more, for the same services, to doctors who worked for hospitals.
I sold my practice to the Daughters of Charity, who owned De Paul Hospital. Soon after De Paul was sold to SSM. My practice was part of the deal. I became an SSM employee.
For the most part things went well. The employees had more benefits. The technology that I craved became available. Many lives have been saved because of it. Patients were satisfied. I did extremely well financially. SSM has done even better. De Paul was a failing institution when I joined its staff. It lost money; employee morale was low; patient satisfaction abysmal. Thanks to the hard work of many people who sacrificed some of their personal life things turned around. SSM’s leader, sister Mary Jean Ryan, became nationally acclaimed for going out of her way to provide quality and compassionate care to people who came through our doors. I was proud to follow her lead.
Unfortunately, my situation has changed. The people who recruited me to work for De Paul are gone, either fired or retired. The emphasis on quality remains, but the drive for profit clearly dominates the picture. Regulations have mushroomed to the point of distraction. Employees are tense and anxious. We don’t see many smiles from them.
I can’t have an open cup of coffee in the exam room any more. There are certain shoes that are outlawed. I can’t hand free medicine samples to people in need. Employees who are busy are not allowed to have a quick snack at their desk, even if their work place is far removed from any patient area. It goes on and on. I decided that I was old; too far along to complain. I wrote some letters to “the new guys.” The answer was always the same: we have to do this to comply with regulations. Bide your time; it will get better.
A few months ago I received an e mail. Jeans are no longer allowed in the office. No one can wear Cardinals gear. I later found out that clothing that showed a large logo, such as “The North Face,” was banned (inappropriate advertising).
If you’re not from St. Louis: we have two religions in this city. The zoo and the Cardinals. We may have Ferguson and racial strife and whole city blocks that are boarded up, but we will always be proud of the zoo and the Cardinals. We worship these institutions.
We had a meeting.
What’s with the dress code? This has nothing to do with federal regulations. It’s just one person trying to wield some power over me.
“It’s not professional.”
I was professional before you were born, I think to myself. I wrote a book on being a good professional. I even gave you a copy. I decide to try reason.
The patients love it. When we have a weekday noon game I wear jeans. I take some employees to the game. Good for morale.
“No.”
Do you have any idea how complicated this gets? Who will be the police? Do we have employees who have nothing else to do but check on jeans and shoes every morning?
“Yes.”
The last time anyone told me how to dress I was nine (I inadvertently lied here. I served in the US Navy for two years. They told me how to dress, and how long my hair could be, and many other things. For a good reason). What will happen to me if I wear jeans? Will you send me home?
An angry look. End of conversation.
A few weeks later my pay was cut. Nothing personal. Regulations, I was told.
I’m leaving.
“You will not like it on your own. You’ll have to buy malpractice, and get a computer system, and once again be responsible for the employees. You’ll make less money.”
Malpractice is easy to get. So are computers these days. I love my employees, and they worship the ground I walk on. I can live with less money. I’m leaving.
“Go ahead.”
It has been a tough two months. SSM will not give me a list of all of my patients, so that I can inform them of my impending move. Regulations, they say. A letter was sent to my patients. It doesn’t say that I will remain in practice. It tells them that they can switch their care to a different SSM doctor. This is our policy, I was told. My colleagues; my friends who refer patients to me will be told that it will be in their best interest to stop doing this.
It’s all about establishing a brand. When you go to McDonald’s you don’t care who’s behind the counter. You want the fries. When you visit Disneyland it does not matter who dresses as Mickey Mouse. You just want someone, anyone, to wear the outfit so that you can take some pictures. Large corporations want to do the same with health care. They want you to go to their building; they don’t want you to prefer one doctor over another. Take a look: you won’t see anything in their offices that belongs to your doctor. They want all locations to be the same. Their brand.
Game on.
October 23 will be my last day with the organization that I have devoted 21 years of my life to. On November 2nd my new practice at De Paul Drive, right across from the De Paul ER (the Quest diagnostics building) will open its doors. There will be pictures of my grandchildren on the wall. Of course I will wear jeans and a Cardinals cap on that day.
Housekeeping details:
We are in the process of getting credentialed to all major insurance plans.
Please do not call the office with questions. Sick patients may not be able to get through. Best if you wait for us to contact you, which should happen in the next 4 weeks. If you have any immediate concerns you can e mail me at franciscogarrigamd@gmail.com.
New address: 3440 De Paul Lane, Bridgeton 63044
Phone 314-942-6464
Web site drbaak.com
Sorry to hear of such struggles. My husband and I will be seeing you in your new office. I’ve appreciated your care for 25 years. Go Doc!
Sorry to hear… your being forced to choose between making someone money instead of well! I will gladly follow you and I hope you don’t mind the jeans and red shoes but they match the red bird on my shirt!
PACO !
GOOD FOR YOU.
John Caruso
I will go where you go. It’s hard to find Doctors that care about their patients. I have found this in you . We need more Dr that care about their patients, and not be dictated to by the administrators. Hats off to you Dr Garriga and thank you for caring.
Regulations. They are always about dehumanizing. Government bureaucratic BS. It’s at all levels of our lives these days. You aren’t the first doctor to get steamrolled and I suspect won’t be the last. I’m with Janet. See you at your new office. Thank you!!
Just as we expect our doctors to be loyal to us, we should do the same. I am excited about the new change and look forward to seeing your new offices. Congratulations on your courage!. By the way I work in an environment that is casual dress and I see no problem with jeans, cardinals jerseys and an occasional Saints (opps) Rams shirt. 🙂
Congratulations on your impending move! May it go as smoothly as possible and Jeff and I wish you all the best!!!
Oh, I am so relieved… After receiving “the letter” I was so distraught. Thank you for the wonderfully written blog, by an amazing doctor. See you soon. 🙂
Apparently, they have no idea that most of your patient’s would follow you to the ends of the earth to be treated by you. Never have I had a more caring and compassionate doctor. It would have been easy for you to just go off and enjoy your retirement and not deal with any of it anymore. As a long time patient of yours I am beyond grateful that you will remain as my doctor. Thank you, thank you, thank you!
yo me voy aquedar con usted y no preocupe por nadahay companias mala y no saben apreciar los trabadores
Received my letter and was very concerned. Wondered what I would do since we were given no information about staying with you, I am so relieved to get your post! Thank you.
I was very saddened when I recieved the letter from SSM Informing me that you were leaving their practice. I was very excited to read your post today and want you to know that I will be following you to your new office. It is wonderful the stand you have taken and you have my full support.
Sheryl Hinds
Well I first saw you when you were on Washington in Florissant. We were both a little younger in those days. I have followed you through several moves over the years so one more time is no problem. I hope everything works out well for you. I am going to wear my “JEANS” on my next visit in your new office. I cannot believe they are treating you and your patients in such a “unprofessional way” . What is more important, caring for your patient or how you dress. There are some very high price jeans out there. I do agree you can go too far with casual dress etc.
but I do not believe you are one if them. You have always had a great concern for your patients and this is so unnecessary.
Happy to follow you to your new digs Dr. Garriga!! A great big hip hip hooray for standing up to “the bullies”! Congratulations
Leslie
Congratulations for your courage and wish you best with your new office. Eres admirable!
My brand is the fabulous Dr. Garriga and his amazing staff, cardinals casual, blue jeans and I love family photos on the wall. That gives me a more personalized experience. Remember those? None of this can be confined to a logo or a Brand. If that is what I wanted, I wouldn’t be in the exceptionally good hands that I am. I’ve said it once, I’ve said it a million times, “Some people know the cost of everything and the value of nothing” (author unknown). Thank you Dr. Garriga for always knowing the difference!
I have been a patient of your for over 25 yrs. First you were on west florissant and have followed you to 3 other places and will continue to follow you. I wear my jeans too ,to see you and will do so now more than ever. Will see you in your new office in Dec. with grandkids picture on the wall and CARDINAL attire ,hopefully following a world series. Go Dr. Garriga!
I still can’t believe this outrageous betrayal, but your standard of authentic care, and exceptional medical service does matter to your “clients” or better put, to us your patients. Yours is a medical model that should be the benchmark of every practitioner who sincerely endeavors to guide their patients into their “golden years”. I trust that your future practice will be most successful and, if I am lucky enough to be eligible, you better believe I’ll be there–in full Cardinal regalia this Fall. God bless….Peggy Burgdorf