Dr. Paul Christopher Metzger

"We're trying to educate our patients about the professional liability crisis in this state," explains P. Christopher Metzger, MD, second vice president of the Pennsylvania Orthopaedic Society (POS).
...
Others are retiring early and residency programs are at a loss because they cannot attract candidates, notes Dr. Metzger.

Pennsylvania physicians who remain in practice, such as Dr. Metzger, are fighting vigorously for medical liability reform on both a state and national level.

"Pennsylvania's plea is identical to every other state that does not have tort reform-we need it to ensure access to patient care," stresses Dr. Metzger."Lawsuit abuse is endangering access to care in Pennsylvania.For instance, Shawn Hennigan, MD, a shoulder specialist in our group, is leaving to practice in Green Bay, Wis.It was a gut-wrenching decision for him to leave his patients, family and friends.We hate to lose him."

Dr. Metzger is on the interim board of Pennsylvanians for Patient Access (PPA), a coalition of doctors, patients, hospitals, health care providers and businesses working together to preserve patient access to high-quality health care and educate the public by grassroots efforts.

The Pennsylvania Orthopaedic Society (POS) President Paul Christopher Metzger, M.D. said a state agency report issued yesterday confirms that one of the highest costs of providing healthcare in Pennsylvania has nothing to do with patient care.

Florida Bill Would Triple Liability Requirement (5/2/2005)

HARRISBURG (May 3, 2005) - The Pennsylvania Orthopaedic Society (POS) President Paul Christopher Metzger, M.D. said a state agency report issued yesterday confirms that one of the highest costs of providing healthcare in Pennsylvania has nothing to do with patient care.

The Pennsylvania Health Care Cost Containment Council (PHC4) reported Pennsylvania hospitals spent $636 million in 2004 for medical liability insurance coverage.The Research Brief includes hospital payments to the Medical Care Availability and Reduction of Error (MCARE) fund, payments to private insurers, payments to underwrite some portion of malpractice costs incurred by some physicians and other expenses not covered by insurance arrangements.

"This report is a stark reminder that millions of dollars in healthcare spending in Pennsylvania has taken a detour away from patient care and into mandated liability insurance," Metzger said noting that these expenditures do not include the millions of dollars spent by independent physicians.
...
"We are seeing the precious resources available for healthcare dwindle just as our population ages and more technology and exciting treatments become available," Metzger said."Our patients deserve more than just a promise that they will have a right to sue, they deserve the right to quality healthcare and that means bringing balance to our medical liability system so we have more to invest on their care."

Metzger noted that key reforms enacted in 2002 and 2003 and MCARE abatement have been important stabilizing factors in Pennsylvania.

[IMG] P. Christopher Metzger, M.D.Scranton Orthopedic
...
P. Christopher Metzger, MD

Dr. Metzger graduated from the Hahnemann Medical College and Hospital in 1979.He completed his orthopaedic residency at the same institution in 1979.He is Board certified by the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgeons and is a member of both the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons and The American College of Surgeons.In 1998 he was appointed to the Board of the Pennsylvania Orthopaedic Society and is currently president of that organization.

Since 1989 Dr. Metzger has also served as the team physician for the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Red Barons, the Triple A affiliate of the Philadelphia Phillies.He is also the team physician for the Abington Heights Sports Medicine Program.He has published several medical articles and is also a guest lecturer at both the University of Scranton and Marywood University.

Dr. Metzger's main interests are Sports Medicine and arthroscopic surgery.He practices orthopaedic surgery at all the local hospitals.

P. Christopher Metzger, M.D.

P. Christopher Metzger,MDHISTORIANScranton Orthopaedics327 North Washington Ave., Ste 808Scranton, PA 18503-1542(570) 961-2043(570) 961-8729 (fax)