For several years, Cincinnati has faced a physician shortage in some key specialties. We know that local physicians may choose to work elsewhere because physician compensation is generally lower here than in sister cities.

Even more troubling is that we are losing talented, committed physicians because malpractice insurance is just too high for them to continue caring for patients.

The medical malpractice crisis is real and a daily worry for many physicians in Greater Cincinnati. Physicians and hospital personnel strive to provide safe, quality care, yet even when the skills of experienced, highly competent physicians are combined with advanced medicines and technical equipment, medical outcomes are not always as anticipated. Physicians and nurses grieve with family members when a patient dies. As a medical community, we expend thousands of hours and millions of dollars each year to improve our processes so that medical care will continually improve and fewer unanticipated outcomes will occur.

Physicians know that even when they have the best intentions and provide the best care possible, they can still be sued and severely damaged, both professionally and financially. These worries are causing significant changes in how physicians practice and whether they continue to care for patients.

I know physicians who have chosen to leave Cincinnati and practice where insurance is more affordable or give up their life's work because of dramatic increases in their malpractice premiums.

In Ohio and across the nation, we must address this issue. If we don't, we will continue to risk losing a very precious community resource - the men and women who have committed themselves to healing the sick and injured.

What can we do? Send a letter or e-mail to your senators and representatives in Columbus and Washington, D.C. We need medical malpractice and tort reform today.

---

Thomas S. Urban is president and chief executive officer of Mercy Health Partners of Southwest Ohio.

---

Want your voice here?

Send your column or proposed topic, 400 words or fewer, along with a photo of yourself, to assistant editorial editor Ray Cooklis at rcooklis@enquirer.com or call (513) 768-8525.