For many physicians, the report by Woolhandler et al.1 on hospitaladministrative costs in this issue of the Journal will merelyconfirm their personal experience with the "suits and suites"syndrome -- the apparent proliferation of well-appointed administratorsand their office space in health care facilities of all varieties.From the standpoint of most physicians, it matters little thatsuch administrators are often hired to help clinicians and patientsnegotiate our complex health care system. When added to thedaily harassment from third parties questioning clinical decisions,the suits and suites syndrome only increases physicians' growingdemoralization and anger over . . . [Full Text of this Article]
Woolhandler, S., Campbell, T., Himmelstein, D. U.
(2003). Costs of Health Care Administration in the United States and Canada. NEJM
349: 768-775
[Abstract][Full Text]
Levono, K. J., Cunningham, F. G., Stern, Z., Zimmer, B., Blumenthal, D.
(1993). Administrative Costs and Health Care Reform. NEJM
329: 1656-1657
[Full Text]