Of course I've heard of the excellent work they do at the Mayo Clinic.
You are, however, misinformed about salary "caps":
http://www.salarylist.com/all-real-jobs-salary-at-mayo-clinic-rochester-mayo-foundation.htm
Ed, I do not know if you have ever heard of a place called the Mayo Clinic, but it is located here in Rochester Minnesota and is one of the top rated hospitals in the country for a number of treatments and research. Oh yeah, every staff member has a salary cap. 
These people are doctors that want to treat people and money is not a top source of motivation.
Ed, you just proved what I said. Their doctors are salaried, they do not get extra money for running unneeded tests, they do not get paid based on number of patients served and how much money that patient spends, they get a set amount of money every year no matter what. I guess salary 'cap' was not the right terminology but
Actually, the machine I am being treated with was developed in California. Siemens makes a similar machine. The best data actually comes from Europe where they use radiation far more often than surgery. The French have pioneered a lot of radiation research since they have a tradition starting with Madam Curie.
Yes, my Doctor spent 12 years at Sloan and was involved in developing techniques, but even he looks at Europe for refinements.
Having the best medical research and technology is not really the point. The point is giving people the benefits from this research and have access to it. If these leading edge treatment are only available to a select few, it is not reaching it's potential. In fact, it is really anti American. In the America I was taught to believe in we all were supposed to have equal opportunity.
My brother is a Dr at a medical center in Pa. Started by a fellow that studied under the Mayo brothers. Every Dr. is salaried, they cannot see drug company Reps. No patient is turned away. EVERY one who has a medical license is expected to see patients including the President of the Hospital. They own satellite clinics for primary care, and they have bought 3 Hospitals in Western NY that were failing and bringing the latest treatments to those areas.
