Dr. Geoff Harter was quoted in the Wall Street Journal article and has no problem openly expressing his opinion about Carilion.
"Would you call Carilion a monopoly?", asks Angela Hatcher.
"Absolutely.", responds Harter.
Harter tells us his practice, Jefferson Surgical Clinic, is staying independent despite talks with Carilion.
"Have your referrals gone down?", asks Angela.
" We have seen a change in our referrals, yes ma'am.", says Harter.
Harter told the newspaper Carilion employees have told him they were asked not to refer patients to non-Carilion docs.
"I think the major concern we have is for the patients because it is decreasing their choice as far as care is concerned.", says Harter. "There have been some folks who have left town. Some that have gone over to Lewis Gale specifically for that reason because they felt they were being driven out of practice."
"You're not gonna just say send us all your business.", says Carilion's Chief Financial Officer Don Lorton.
Lorton disputes the article and Harter's claim.
"They're wrong that we direct our phycisians to channel our referrels and even if we thought we would want to I know physicians well enough to know they wouldn't do it if they thought it wasn't in the best interest of their patient.", says Lorton.
"Don't I as a patient, have the right to say I want to see Dr. Harter? Refer me to him.", says Angela.
"Absolutely you do. But if you're in a situation in the emergency room and they say Dr. Harter is no longer taking call. Dr. Harter is not on call tonight. That has happened to me and other physicians."
But Harter says he was available that night.
According to the Wall Street Journal, Carilion CEO Dr. Edward Murphy says he would rather see Carilion doctors refer patients in-house.
So the question remains, as a patient, is the choice really yours?
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