Quote:
Originally posted by BlueSkyJaunte
The people to blame:
1) Ambulance-chasing lawyers (and the rest of our brain-dead legal system, aka bought politicians--on both sides!--and corrupt judiciary)
2) Insurance industry (aka legalized extortion)
3) Hospitals run like corporations that make Enron look like the paragon of integrity.
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Couldn't have put it better.
Let me give you a bit of insight from the MD point of view.
Most docs started their careers with the best of intentions. We saw 20 patients per day, and made a decent living. We knew your name and the names of your kids. We felt like you were part of our lives and we were part of yours. HMO's changed all that. Red tape and overhead skyrocketed. In an effort to preserve our income, we doubled, then tripled the number of patients we see per day. Many docs are bitter, tired and angry. We don't know who you are any more. On your third visit, your doc looks at you like you are a stranger. That's because he is seeing 50-60 patients per day!
Our local hospital pays PM nurses $50/hour and has trouble filling the shifts. The M.D.'s work at the same place for $42.50/hour and are always begging for more hours.
I did the HMO shuffle for 10 years before I burned out. I dropped every HMO contract 3 years ago. I spend twice as much time with my patients as I did before. I know their names and the names of their kids. I took a 40% salary cut but I love my job again. This morning I opened my daily mail. There are a lot fewer checks in the mail these days, but it's loaded with Christmas cards from my patients. Fair trade.
