Ep. 78 The Business of Gynecology in Canada with Dr. Jonathon Solnik

How does gynecology care in the United States compare to Canada? In this episode of the BackTable OBGYN podcast, Dr. Jonathon Solnik, head of gynecology and minimally invasive surgery at Mount Sinai in Toronto, speaks with hosts Dr. Mark Hoffman and Dr. Amy Park about the significant differences between the healthcare systems in the US and Canada. --- SYNPOSIS The doctors cover financial incentives and constraints faced by hospitals in the US vs. Canada, the role of insurance companies, and how resource limitations impact clinical practice. Dr. Solnik shares insights from his career journey, emphasizing the challenges and opportunities he has encountered in Canada, including longer wait times for elective surgeries and the intricacies of the Canadian global budget system. The conversation also covers the impact of robotics in surgery, standardization of care, and the differences in the handling of high-acuity medical cases. The episode provides an insightful discussion on how different healthcare models affect patient care, physician practices, and hospital administration. --- TIMESTAMPS 00:00 - Introduction 01:39 - Dr. Solnik’s Career Journey 03:30 - Healthcare System Differences: US vs Canada 09:57 - Balancing Quality and Volume in Healthcare 12:18 - Private Practice in Canada 25:03 - Wait Times and Capacity Issues 34:44 - Oncology and Semi-Salaried Positions 39:03 - Negotiating CPT Codes and RVUs 42:14 - Access to Care in Remote Areas 44:42 - Robotics in Surgery 55:09 - Incentives and Productivity in Healthcare Systems 01:01:33 - Concluding Thoughts