Messages from the Frontlines

Subject: Termination after asking to see the books
Date: March 31, 2001

E-mail sent to Robert McNamara by a Florida emergency physician

"I am debating whether or not to renew my membership. I am a residency trained and board certified emergency physician. I have 13 years experience after residency. I formerly held an appointment at UCLA in the department of emergency medicine. I am an excellent doctor. I was fired this month from a job with EmCare. I was given 30 days notice, and then I was left to my own devices to support my family. I was only told that the hospital administrator said I could not work there any more. Reportedly, it was related to a substitute nursing supervisor I met one time several months ago who said I was rude. I think it may have to do with my questioning the regional EmCare vice-president in a polite letter asking why we were not given the financial data that our contract stipulates we receive and on which our bonuses are based. The letter was never answered and I am out of a job.

I am going to open a private general practice. I don't know if I will ever practice emergency medicine again or not. I chose the field because I thought it was the area where I could do the most good. I don't know that it was a mistake, but I do know that in any other field I could not lose my job and income on a whim like this. It is discouraging, as I am sure you know."

Yours truly,