Page 22 - OctSam2019

CORPORATE
MEDICINE

PHYSICIAN vs. The Corporate

Independence Practice of

MEDICINE

By Manuel M. Quiñones, Jr., MD – Opinion/Editorial

This article is written strictly as an opinion piece by Dr. Manny Quiñones and is not to be interpreted in
any way as the opinion of the Texas Medical Board.

“So why on earth is Manny writing an ar- work for yourself or for other physicians, Family Practice doctor. That didn’t work out
ticle again?” Well, I’ll tell you why. because having an opinion about how you take care very well because I thought I would become
for some time now, many things have gone of your patients can really be anxiogenic. So an equal partner as he had promised; but that
unsaid, and if anybody would ever say them, why would you ever want to work for an en- was not on his priority list. Me not being shy
it would have to be me. I know I may make tity you have no control over, no hope of about my concerns landed us in opposite
some of you happy, thinking “Gosh I’m glad ever governing or leading, or worse yet, one corners. So, I was “released” and started my
someone said something about that,” and that might have you in violation of the Cor- solo practice. I had the pleasure of working
others of you may say, “I can’t believe some- porate Practice of Medicine prohibition here closely with three other FPs during my
body said that!” So here goes. in Texas? let me tell you a little about how I tenure of solo practice and they went off to
In my book, there are a few rules you started my professional life and how it has do other things alone, which I respected.
should never break and lines you should evolved and maybe you will understand Then about 10 years in to my solo life, my
never step over. One of those is never bite where I am coming from. friend dr. Hugh Wolf, approached me and
the hand that feeds you. So what happens if When I finished my residency in Family invited me to join one of the Santa Rosa
you don’t work for yourself or for other Practice in 1985, at the encouragement of a groups. I was reluctant, but realized (25 years
physicians? Unfortunately, when you don’t very dear friend, I went to work for another ago now) that the days of solo primary care

22 San Antonio Medicine • October 2019