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Message
Doctors hate their jobs (and it's not because of obamacare)
Posted on 8/29/14 at 7:32 pm
Posted on 8/29/14 at 7:32 pm
LINK
Consider what one doctor had to say on Sermo, the online community of more than 270,000 physicians:
"I wouldn't do it again, and it has nothing to do with the money. I get too little respect from patients, physician colleagues, and administrators, despite good clinical judgment, hard work, and compassion for my patients. Working up patients in the ER these days involves shotguning multiple unnecessary tests (everybody gets a CT!) despite the fact that we know they don't need them, and being aware of the wastefulness of it all really sucks the love out of what you do. I feel like a pawn in a moneymaking game for hospital administrators. There are so many other ways I could have made my living and been more fulfilled. The sad part is we chose medicine because we thought it was worthwhile and noble, but from what I have seen in my short career, it is a charade."
The discontent is alarming, but how did we get to this point? To some degree, doctors themselves are at fault.
At the same time, salaries haven't kept pace with doctors' expectations. In 1970, the average inflation-adjusted income of general practitioners was $185,000. In 2010, it was $161,000, despite a near doubling of the number of patients that doctors see a day.
Consider what one doctor had to say on Sermo, the online community of more than 270,000 physicians:
"I wouldn't do it again, and it has nothing to do with the money. I get too little respect from patients, physician colleagues, and administrators, despite good clinical judgment, hard work, and compassion for my patients. Working up patients in the ER these days involves shotguning multiple unnecessary tests (everybody gets a CT!) despite the fact that we know they don't need them, and being aware of the wastefulness of it all really sucks the love out of what you do. I feel like a pawn in a moneymaking game for hospital administrators. There are so many other ways I could have made my living and been more fulfilled. The sad part is we chose medicine because we thought it was worthwhile and noble, but from what I have seen in my short career, it is a charade."
The discontent is alarming, but how did we get to this point? To some degree, doctors themselves are at fault.
At the same time, salaries haven't kept pace with doctors' expectations. In 1970, the average inflation-adjusted income of general practitioners was $185,000. In 2010, it was $161,000, despite a near doubling of the number of patients that doctors see a day.
25
Posted on 8/29/14 at 7:39 pm to RedRifle
We JDs heartily welcome the MDs to the "What the frick was I thinking club." 
Posted on 8/29/14 at 7:42 pm to RedRifle
Engineering FTMFW 
Posted on 8/29/14 at 7:43 pm to RedRifle
Welcome to what most people feel about their job. Cry me a fricking river.
Posted on 8/29/14 at 7:45 pm to RedRifle
MD's are gonna be fine.
Lets not worry about them.
Lets not worry about them.
Posted on 8/29/14 at 7:46 pm to RedRifle
quote:
and it's not because of obamacare
Lies.
quote:
it has nothing to do with the money.
More lies.
Posted on 8/29/14 at 7:49 pm to RedRifle
quote:
While patients today are undoubtedly paying more for medical care, less of that money is actually going to the people who provide the care. According to a 2002 article in the journal Academic Medicine, the return on educational investment for primary-care physicians, adjusted for differences in number of hours worked, is just under $6 per hour, as compared with $11 for lawyers. Some doctors are limiting their practices to patients who can pay out of pocket without insurance company discounting.
I'm still in residency, but it's depressing to hear the older docs talk about the good ole days around the water cooler. The above is probably what gets most docs...you are required to work more, provide better care, take on greater liability, all while having your compensation cut. All patients see is higher healthcare costs and assume you're the devil behind it.
I wish patients could see the percentage of time a service is paid in full by insurance, let alone paid at all.
Posted on 8/29/14 at 7:50 pm to RedRifle
The sad fact is hospitals, medical insurance companies, pharmacies, and most other medical related businesses would not exist if not for the MD.
Why the frick do they not realize this fact.
They have all the leverage in this and choose not to use it. Interdasting.
Why the frick do they not realize this fact.
They have all the leverage in this and choose not to use it. Interdasting.
Posted on 8/29/14 at 7:52 pm to GEAUXT
Exactly. Everyone thinks he boogeyman is the government but it's the insurance company. A lot of them publicly traded companies who look at their biggest outlay and it's what they pay to providers. CEO wants to cut costs to increase share price and his value.
Posted on 8/29/14 at 7:56 pm to GEAUXT
quote:
I wish patients could see the percentage of time a service is paid in full by insurance, let alone paid at all.
They couldn't give two shits.
Posted on 8/29/14 at 8:04 pm to ruzil
quote:
They have all the leverage in this and choose not to use it. Interdasting.
Because most are gutless pussies that grew up being hall monitors and are more than happy to kiss administration's arse in return for a pat on the back. I take zero shite from any of them. You give me shite...I shut you out. When you have by far the largest practice in a given area, this can have a huge impact. If only I could get others to follow suit. But if anybody has ever seen the clusterfrick it becomes when a bunch of docs get together, you'd understand why we don't band together. Too many ego's. And the least successful ones seem to be the ones that know everything. Piss on 'em. After years of not listening too me cause I was the youngster, now they wanna partner with me and/or work for me.
Posted on 8/29/14 at 8:06 pm to RedRifle
It's a crying shame.
If we could just go back to MD's making $400k, not being questioned, golf on Wednesday, pulling tail, and a wife at home, their lives would be so much better.
If we could just go back to MD's making $400k, not being questioned, golf on Wednesday, pulling tail, and a wife at home, their lives would be so much better.
Posted on 8/29/14 at 8:07 pm to RedRifle
Sounds like the general practioners are complaining, which they should be. They are loooooow on the totem pole despite the necessity.
Posted on 8/29/14 at 8:11 pm to RedRifle
PA here. I know more than a few physicians that say they wouldn't go to med school if they could do it over again.
It is a business first and foremost. I remember a preceptor during my clinical rotations told me that I was primarily a dollar sign to the clinic/hospital. Just like any other business it's about productivity and managing costs. I think the quicker you come to that realization the happier you'll be. Medicine isn't what it was 50 years ago.
It is a business first and foremost. I remember a preceptor during my clinical rotations told me that I was primarily a dollar sign to the clinic/hospital. Just like any other business it's about productivity and managing costs. I think the quicker you come to that realization the happier you'll be. Medicine isn't what it was 50 years ago.
Posted on 8/29/14 at 8:12 pm to sbr2
quote:
Sounds like the general practioners are complaining, which they should be. They are loooooow on the totem pole despite the necessity.
Their own faults. Plenty of money out there if they know what they are doing and the specialists should be working for them, but they won't work together enough to leverage the pull they have.
Posted on 8/29/14 at 8:16 pm to SmackoverHawg
You mind explaining? I'm curious since I'm a student.
Posted on 8/29/14 at 8:18 pm to RedRifle
I would say at least 35% of the GP's I come into contact with on a daily basis are miserable and their staff hates working there.
Posted on 8/29/14 at 8:18 pm to Traffic Circle
quote:
It's a crying shame. If we could just go back to MD's making $400k, not being questioned, golf on Wednesday, pulling tail, and a wife at home, their lives would be so much better.
After 4 years of mental grueling med school and another 4 of physical grueling residency and possibly another year of fellowship---I have no problem with them making that and more. Have you committed 9 years post graduate to difficult studies?
Posted on 8/29/14 at 8:20 pm to Marco Esquandolas
quote:
After 4 years of mental grueling med school and another 4 of physical grueling residency and possibly another year of fellowship---I have no problem with them making that and more. Have you committed 9 years post graduate to difficult studies?
You forgot the crippling debt.
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