Administrators, Patient Satisfaction Scores, and Drug Dealing Doctors
Dr. Steven Henson, a doctor in Kansas, is accused in a 31-count indictment of operating a prescription drug operation that led to the death of one of his patients. Henson was an ER doctor who then practiced at the Kansas Men’s Clinic in west Wichita and at other locations in Wichita. That clinic supposedly treats men’s sexual health issues with Oxycodone, Xanax and Methadone. Henson handed out the prescriptions “in return for cash payment…without a medical necessity…without a legitimate medical examination… and for individuals other than the person who came to see him.” The indictment also says Henson deposited at least $312,000 in cash related to the alleged crimes. The indictment says Henson is accused of illegally distributing more than 34,000 Oxycodone pills.
We see these dirtbags all the time but here is the best part. My close doctor friend worked under him when he was in residency. Henson was an ER doctor then. Here is what he said:
He was one of our ER attendings in Salina. We called him the candyman. In his defense, he had by FAR the highest patient satisfaction scores. The administrators cited his high scores and the reason for them every time they tried to make us think that was important. They wanted us to be more like him.
Just another reason why these patient satisfaction scores for hospital docs are bogus. Did it lead Henson to becoming the Candyman? Who knows? It sure didn’t hurt. And it made the administrators so happy. Picture an administrator eating a scoobie snack and that is what you get every time they see those nice scores come in.
Annnd now we know what makes patients “satisfied,” Satisfaction scores my left foot.
I agree.
Honest surgeons have a hard time making a living.
Those that give out narcotics, disability, extended time off work for union and government employees, non covered items covered by insurance or work comp, and do whatever else makes the patient happy get all the patients.
This goes back to stupid administrator sayings:
“Why can’t you other doctors be more like Dr. Henson? Patients love him.”
Of course, having no idea what his prescribing habits are.
Dammit, as usual, Lance stole my answer.
None of this would happen if we made all of these drugs over-the-counter.
You want to go kill yourself on opiates? Fine, go ahead. You’re useless to society as an addict anyway.
I’d rather see the small percentage of people with inherent substance abuse problems lolling around on the street than have them shooting each other over drug deals, stealing my car stereo, or putting me at risk of losing my license because my ESP couldn’t tell that they were addicts.
I’m their doctor, not their drug pusher.
10-4 Step aside, let’s let evolution proceed.