Doctors are Uniting to Gain a Voice

A decade-long doctor at Newton Medical Practice, Dr. Zoe Tseng, was shocked when she heard the clinic was closing. She and her colleagues were to be reassigned, while other staff were offered jobs elsewhere. Tseng felt powerless and worried about her patients. This experience sparked her decision to help form a union of primary care physicians at Mass General Brigham (MGB). They aim to address issues like heavy workloads, insufficient pay, staff shortages, and lack of say in decisions. This isn't an isolated event. Doctors at several large health systems in Massachusetts and Rhode Island are unionizing. MGB primary care doctors, along with residents and fellows, want a seat at the table to influence patient care and support. They feel their employers prioritize business over medical needs. The trend isn't new. Residents have been unionizing for decades, but now, seasoned doctors like Tseng are joining. They share concerns about business-driven decisions affecting patient care. MGB's chief executive, Dr. Anne Klibanski, acknowledged the burden on primary care doctors, citing efforts to ease workloads and improve pay. Nationwide, hospitals are consolidating, and physician practices are being acquired, changing the landscape. This shift has led more doctors to unionize, seeking to protect their independence and autonomy.