A pediatrician, a surgeon, and a managed care physician were playing their usual Wednesday round of golf and started discussing how much of their capitated income was actually spent on patient care.
Specifically, they started to compare how they decided what portion of the collection to keep for themselves and what portion to use on their respective patients.
The pediatrician explains: “I draw a circle around myself and toss the money in the air. Whatever lands in the circle I keep for myself. Whatever lands outside the circle, I use for the patients.”
The surgeon then adds: “I use a similar method, except that whatever lands in the circle I use for patient care, and whatever lands outside the circle I keep for my personal needs.”
The managed care executive said, “Well, I’m a religious man. When I toss the money in the air, I figure that any money God wants the patients to have, He can take.”
