Why Are Doctors Quitting? A Physician Weighs In

Paco Dennis

Paco Dennis

SF VIP
Location
Mid-Missouri
America's doctors are leaving the profession in growing numbers, creating a crisis in the U.S. healthcare system. Some 117,000 physicians left the field in 2021, and one in five doctors say they will soon do so. In a recent op-ed for The New York Times, political anthropologist and physician Dr. Eric Reinhart explained fatal flaws in the country’s health system that led to this worrying trend.

 

officerripley said:
The primary care doc we had a few years ago retired earlier than he had originally planned I think for the above reasons.
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In the early 2000's the primary I was seeing also retired. I didn't think he looked that old. He was very kind to me. Once when in the office I was complaining about my job. He gave my sympathy and replied "I know how hard you work," Real world validation is a rarity for me and I really appreciated it.
 
JustBonee said:
Around this area, they haven't been leaving the profession especially ... they just refuse to see patients in general.
They will give you an appointment 3 months out, and hope that you cancel before that time comes.

Thank goodness for WebMD and Mayo Clinic online.
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I signed up for a new doctor in October 22. My first new patient appt is in June.
Luckily, I had all my preventive care completed last year.
 
I remember when my ENT man told me he had sold his practice. He had complained a few times before how malpractice insurance was killing him. I could appreciate this as I, as a nurse, also have to carry a hefty malpractice insurance package. A lot of this would be unnecessary if this country wasn't so quick to sue us professionals, for every death or mistake made that clearly was not the fault of either a doctor or nurse. Judges do not bother to examine these cases thoroughly before deciding to hear them, and the result is heaps of money being wasted.

Really, it begins at the root of education required to become a doctor. A four-year pre-med course is not necessary at all. Yes, I can see 2 years with an Associate's degree and then a 4 year medical school education. It does not stop there, as next are several years of residency for physicians in their chosen discipline. Tons of money are spent getting to this point on the part of the doctor. Nurses do not have it much easier, but for a couple of years.

Next, is the government's requisite levels in order to obtain licensure to practice our profession. Also costs money.

It is considered by prospective patients that our fees are outrageously high due to moneys we've spent on education. Not so. Insurance companies charge us an arm and a leg to protect us against many frivolous law suit. These same companies charge would be patients high premiums to pay for medical and hospital fees. Hospitals are also burdened with enormous insurance premiums.

Pharmacy costs and the usage of modern medical appliances whether owned or rented render a patient's wallet empty. Those huge and small machines, etc. we need for patients also have to be insured.

All in all, insurance companies are the only ones, besides big pharma getting rich off the patient. Cleveland Clinic has a pretty decent program in addressing all these issues, as patients pay only what they can afford, regardless. All medical personnel are salaried with full benefits. But, unless this country comes up with a one payer system, or adopt a system along the lines of Cleveland Clinic, and judges refusing to hear those cases that shouldn't be, this country will continue to lag behind in proper care.

Modernize the entire system, get rid of government interference in deciding who is suffer from which condition or disease, and place insurance companies in a position of justifying each and every cost. There is far more to consider in all this, but just a basic suggestion.
 
A lot of the doctors are babyboomers who are retiring. Younger doctors who are considering quitting, what's he or she going to do? They have to earn a living and a lot of them have to pay back student loans.
 
Paco Dennis said:
America's doctors are leaving the profession in growing numbers, creating a crisis in the U.S. healthcare system. Some 117,000 physicians left the field in 2021, and one in five doctors say they will soon do so. In a recent op-ed for The New York Times, political anthropologist and physician Dr. Eric Reinhart explained fatal flaws in the country’s health system that led to this worrying trend.

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pfyzer and the like. insurance co's health care conglomerents, heatlh care groups indivicual doctors nurses techies conract empoyees in colusion with equipent provider liabilty proporties etc....get the picture ...folllow the money in this case money greed and misery not to mention damage deaths agony etc....+_+_)*_)(*^*&^$%#$ disgrace and totally unnecessary corruption and greed
 
hearlady said:
All the more reason to take good care of ourselves.
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Just something to think about; what's talked about in the video has already resulted in a lower standard of care nationwide, and that includes care of mental patients, the mentally unsound, and people addicted to substances. We're already experiencing a multitude of problems due to the lack of professional intervention for those people. Things certainly aren't going to get any better.
 
However.. the same thing is happening in the UK.Doctors particualrly GP's are leaving in their droves. They get paid well from the NHS.. but they cite overwork as the reason they're leaving.

Well it's difficult enough to see a GP here now since Covid.. very regular to wait a month to see one.. and even worse now because where there was perhaps 7 doctors at the one practice ( office).. there's now only one with transient locums..

When we do get to see a doctor we never get to see the same one, so they don't know us and the 8 mins we're allotted for just ONE issue, is dealt with by the locum looking at his computer and searching the symptoms..

A&E dept in the hospitals are overwhelmed because people are using them instead to see a doctor when tey can't see a GP ( genral practioner)... and it's very common to arrive at A&E with a serious condition and wait 12 hours before being seen..
 
My doctor is insanely busy. He works for a huge clinic that spreads over the state. I don't think he makes the schedule. He's just a cog in a corporate wheel. He's probably no more important to the corporation than I am. My last visit I had to wait until closing time to see my doctor. The building was closed by the time I left, and only one staff member was still there. I was instructed to leave by a side exit which locked itself when the door closed.
 
hollydolly said:
are you serious ?.. is that how it's going in Germany ?...
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Holly, it depends. With some specialists you may wait for some months to get an appointment, I've even read that up to six months is possible, of cause not in case of emergency. At our family doctor 2 to 3 weeks is normal for an appointment. At a specialist 2 to 3 hours in the waiting room is normal, at our family doctor half an hour. 3 to 5 minutes talking to the doctor (every doctor) is normal too.
Private patients with a special insurance are served much better.
 
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George1959 said:
Holly, it depends. With some specialists you may wait for some months to get an appointment, I've even read that up to six months is possible, of cause not in case of emergency. At our family doctor 2 to 3 weeks is normal for an appointment. At a specialist 2 to 3 hours in the waiting room is normal, at our family doctor half an hour. 3 to 5 minutes talking to the doctor (every doctor) is normal too.
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A year is not an exaggeration here to see a specialist.. and our GP is a minimum of 4 weeks for an 8 minute appointment where we're only permitted to discuss one issue . :(
 
since our move to a new county , 9months ago , my husband has not seen our new allocated doctor yet...
we had the pharmacist, call us 8 months ago, to check on his meds....,. he had his blood pressure taken by me 4 months ago, which was too low, and
we are still waiting for the nurse to come check on his BP again........
disgraceful ...while the drs are all out playing golf Grrrrrrr
 
I think this fellow may be generalizing a bit, pushing for universal health care. 2020 was a rough year for the medical professions for a lot of reasons. Still, as much as we might lose some quality and pay more in taxes, I would favor universal health care. There should not be a price tag to preserving life. And insurance costs for the middle class are nearly unbearable.
 
No problem. Soon we'll be able to get our health care through Amazon! :eek:

Washington, DC
CNN
—
Amazon closed its acquisition of health care provider One Medical and its parent in a $3.9 billion deal on Wednesday, hours after the Federal Trade Commission said it would not challenge the purchase but that regulators were still investigating potential competitive and consumer harms of the transaction.

The landmark deal will turn the e-commerce giant into a provider of primary medical care with access to more than 200 brick-and-mortar doctors’ offices, along with roughly 815,000 One Medical members, according to that company’s latest financial statement.Washington, DC
CNN
—
Amazon closed its acquisition of health care provider One Medical and its parent in a $3.9 billion deal on Wednesday, hours after the Federal Trade Commission said it would not challenge the purchase but that regulators were still investigating potential competitive and consumer harms of the transaction.

The landmark deal will turn the e-commerce giant into a provider of primary medical care with access to more than 200 brick-and-mortar doctors’ offices, along with roughly 815,000 One Medical members, according to that company’s latest financial statement.
https://www.cnn.com/2023/02/22/tech/ftc-amazon-one-medical-deal/index.html
 
It's the actual cost of for-profit medicine. They're unable to prioritize patient care over profit accumulation. That's the cost of the practice of medicine as a strictly for-profit business...
 
I'm having issues with low blood pressure, dizziness and a strange feeling in my chest. I went to the er and the doctor told me I was dehydrated. I was not. I got an appointment with my cardio doctor and he prescribed tests that I couldn't get an appointment for one month. Here I sit wondering what is wrong with me but have to wait for a month to be tested. So, so wrong.
 

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