CHARLESTON, S.C. - PRDelivery -- Facial plastic surgeon and President of Independent Doctors of South Carolina, Dr. Marcelo Hochman, sees a problem: Hospital systems and healthcare companies continue to leverage misguided healthcare policies such as CONs (certificates of need) and non-compete agreements to herd more and more doctors—and patients—under their umbrellas. Fewer than half of U.S. doctors now practice independently, leaving the majority of doctors with little to no decision-making rights at their place of employment.

The dwindling number of independent doctors is having a catastrophic impact on the cost and quality of patient care, as well as the rate of physician burnout. As more doctors are rapidly becoming employees of larger systems, the result is fragmented care, severe cost increases, and enforcement of hospital directives instead of patient focus.

Independent Doctors of South Carolina (IndeDocs) was created to protect and promote independent practice, ensuring that physicians remain advocates for the patients they serve. IndeDocs provides education and support to doctors-in-training, colleagues, and employed physicians who are curious about independent practice and need help embarking on that path.

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IndeDocs also educates non-physicians on the ways independent physicians offer better value, access, and quality when it comes to patient care, and advocates for policy changes that will put the power of choice back in the hands of patients and their doctors.

The dwindling number of independent doctors has a catastrophic impact on the cost and quality of patient care. Independent practice is the solution to problems of fragmented care, severe cost increases, and enforcement of hospital directives instead of patient focus.

- Dr. Marcelo Hochman

The founder of The Facial Surgery Center, Dr. Marcelo Hochman is a double Board-certified facial plastic and reconstructive surgeon, President of the Charleston County Medical Society and President of the Independent Doctors of South Carolina. He champions legislative projects to repeal the Certificate of Need law; exempt Doctors from non-compete clauses as a condition of employment and seeking a tax incentive for individual doctors who provide pro-bono charitable medical care.