I have lived and worked in southeast Pennsylvania my entire life, but I just left my Pennsylvania-based anesthesiology group for a practice in Delaware. Together with many physicians, I am fleeing the state's skyrocketing malpractice premiums and stagnating reimbursements.

Pennsylvania is just one of 12 states in "malpractice crisis" mode, according to the AMA. But we can fix the problem. Here are four things we need to do immediately:

• Support tort reform. The US House of Representatives' proposal to put a $250,000 cap on malpractice awards for pain and suffering (HR 4600) is a good idea. In California, where tort reform has existed for more than 25 years, OB/GYNs pay about $20,000 for medical liability insurance; colleagues in crisis states can pay more than $150,000, according to AMA.