By Dr. Mayes Dubose
(Note: As the 163rd President of the SCMA, I am honored to write a series of columns titled “Real World Medicine,” that systematically address some of the broad and multifaceted issues and advances in healthcare. The columns are featured in SCMedNews, which is emailed each month to SMCA members. The following “Real World Medicine” column explores the importance of independence.)
“I tell ye true, liberty is the best of all things;
never live beneath the noose of a servile halter.”
~ William Wallace
Leading off with a quote from the Scottish hero and martyr is certainly dramatic, but I’ll explain.
I’m proud to be the owner of an independent (and autonomous) medical practice, and many of you have heard me jest that I may have to “go down like the Alamo!” I will continue to fiercely defend my medical practice and my ability to care for my patients and staff in the manner I feel best; that is my liberty and the more of my colleagues I see move into an employed role, the more I treasure that freedom.
There will always be a role for employed physicians and we must nurture our relationships with hospitals, corporations, and insurance companies, but I firmly believe the scales have tipped too far.
Private doctors’ offices are the “front door of medicine,” but they have been under a relentless barrage from CMS’ cuts to reimbursement rates, increased operating costs and ever-mounting administrative burdens, all leading to widespread burnout. The current healthcare environment has led to a mass exodus of physicians from self-employment, but independent physicians remain the heartbeat of the principles we espouse as medical professionals.
I wager that very few of us would dispute the detrimental effects we witness in this system in which most of us have little administrative authority. A “servile halter” may be a little too 14th century, but my use of it in reference to the struggles between Scotland and England is intentional.
Our motives as physicians will rarely align with those of hospital systems or private equity; the longer the loss of equilibrium persists, the more we risk a permanent position of submission to the other forces involved in our healthcare system.
The SCMA is a champion for independent physicians and practices. The unity of South Carolina physicians through the SCMA is our single greatest shield against opposing forces.
We must not allow ourselves to be splintered into ineffectiveness. This battle is too big for us to believe we can make a difference in our individual clans and the SCMA agrees.
We have already moved to initiate meetings with local physician groups to compile responses regarding “pain points” of both independent and employed physicians. This data will be used in the inaugural Independent Physician Caucus which will be held in conjunction with the annual SCMA meeting this April in Columbia. (Our employed colleagues need not fret…we are champions for you too but the energy for the movement will be channeled here first!)
In summary:
- Meet us locally when we come to your area so we can hear your voice.
- Make sure your SCMA membership is active; we need your support: scmedical.org/registeraccount/
- Plan to join us in Columbia in April so we can make a difference together!
The 2025 SCMA Annual Meeting
Friday, April 25 – Saturday, April 26
The annual meeting features the SCMA House of Delegates, educational events and more!
Meet Dr. Mayes Dubose
As a Sumter County native, Dr. DuBose graduated from Wilson Hall and Clemson University before obtaining his medical degree from the University of South Carolina School of Medicine. He completed his family medicine residency in Columbia, South Carolina, serving as chief resident. He then completed a geriatric fellowship at the University of Connecticut.
Dr. DuBose opened his Sumter-based private practice in 2005. In 2019, he launched Sumter’s first concierge medical practice. He is board-certified in both family medicine and geriatric medicine and is currently serving as president of the South Carolina Medical Association (SCMA).
Dr. DuBose’s wife, Randa Carole, is also a Sumter County native. They have two sons who keep them busy and the house full of laughter, as well as a 100-pound golden retriever, Murphy, who considers himself a lapdog. When not at home, Dr. DuBose and his family love to spend their downtime at the beach and Clemson football games.
