The Christmas Carol and the Economic Man

Abstract

Each day, between office visits and rounds at Methodist Hospital, oncologist Gail Bender sees anywhere from 17 to 30 patients. She does this five days a week, working from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., and she spends about three hours Saturday and Sunday seeing patients in the hospital and finishing paperwork. She's always keeping a close eye on expenses, and, like most physicians, she's spending considerable time dealing with payers. Unlike most of her colleagues, she's in business for herself.