More than a dozen physicians and advanced practice providers have left Dignity Health Dominican Hospital in Santa Cruz, Calif., after the health system’s medical foundation unilaterally changed its contracting arrangements with the Santa Cruz Medical Group late last year, Lookout Santa Cruz reported June 29.
The departures, which several physicians described as exceeding normal annual turnover, included primary care, OB-GYN and specialty physicians who moved to competing systems including Kaiser Permanente and Sutter Health. The Santa Cruz Medical Group, a roughly 120-member physician group established in 2014, is now closing after Dignity Health Medical Foundation ended its contract with the group and shifted to contracting with a different physician organization.
The exodus has left some patients facing waits of up to a year for a new primary care physician. Dignity Health said it is onboarding new clinicians across multiple specialties and plans to fill most open roles by year’s end but declined to answer questions about how many patients lost their doctors or why the contract change was made.
Dignity Health Medical Group – Dominican Hospital provided Becker’s with the following statement: “At Dignity Health, dedication to our communities and delivering high-quality, compassionate care guides every decision we make. Our skilled physicians and advanced practice providers form the bedrock of our healthcare delivery system. We know there may be concerns about recent staffing changes due to physicians pursuing other opportunities. This change was essential for positioning our organization for growth in the Santa Cruz area—particularly in light of current external factors affecting the healthcare landscape. We’re excited to welcome a diverse group of clinicians in multiple specialties. Some are joining our team right away, and others will be coming on board over the next several months. We anticipate having most positions filled by the end of the year. Our commitment to attracting and retaining exceptional talent is steadfast, ensuring that we maintain a meaningful and expanding presence, while providing outstanding care for many years to come.”
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