I was a medi-cop.

When I became an inspector for the New York State Health Department, I realized that I would not win any popularity contests, but I believed that I would be improving the quality of care in the 32 hospitals controlled by our area office. I decided to take the job in a desperate move to escape from primary care responsibilities that had been growing more onerous daily. This article tells of my experience as a health care regulator and why I returned to work for a health care provider.