re: OT: Have You Also Noticed Doctors Growing Increasingly Lazy?

Physicians join groups so there is security and get paid on RVU's and not patient outcomes. Until their reimbursement is DIRECTLY tied to patient outcomes nothing dramatic will change.

The kicker is the specialists, drug companies have all the money and all profit when they run tests, when you're sick, when you have procedure or when you're admitted.

The insurance companies, PCPs and patients are the ones who benefit when your healthy and in the medical profession don't carry the weight of their adversaries. The bottom line is, not everyone has the same goal and until they do, this is what we have.

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"Doctors received $3.5 billion from pharmaceutical companies and device makers over a five month period in 2013,

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This is a recurring theme around here. People link bullshite articles and don't investigate where the claims are coming from. Every Internet news site is trying to generate clicks. They don't care about accuracy of information.

Go to the link you posted. Go to their source. Download the original data set to excel and sort through it.

First know that dentists, optometrists, podiatrists, and NPs are included in that figure.

Second, after your remove all the royalties for inventions doctors had and investments in private companies they claim are "payments" you end with a total of $488,092. again that includes the non MDs listed above.

Now sort out primary care providers.
They recieve a total of 692 "payments"
Averaging $170 each
For a total of $117,928
99% of which was classified as food and beverage

What happens is the drug companies buy lunch for the office staff in exchange for lecturing for 15-20 minutes about the scientific data about their drug. Then they leave. They do not leave any samples. You are under no obligation to use or prescribe their product, and you don't recieve extra meals, money, ANYTHING if you do. In fact, they have no way of knowing if you even prescribe their product. That would be a HIPPA violation.

Do you see how numbers can be skewed when you have an agenda?

And by the way, the numbers above are for ALL of 2014

Did you read my post right above yours?

You literally have no idea how to begin to support your baseless claims

You didn't attempt to respond to any of my questions and tried to play off your initial post as a troll

Go back to your room and finish your homework, kid

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handshake and a seat for 15 minutes would be nice.

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Hahahaha 15 minutes? They don't give a shite about your kids soccer game or your 3 different versions of what you read online

And to the OP, yes...I do think doctors on the whole are getting lazier. In many instances, they are paid salary by some big group and there are no real incentives to see more or be better. They see their minimum quota and move your arse down the line. Stick to independent practices. Just like with pharmacies, you'll get better care and more personal service. And it's generally cheaper. There's no corporation that owns it and functions only to make profit over and above the physician/providers salaries.

There are good docs out there. Don't judge all by the actions of others. Ask around and find a practice that fits your needs and personality. And don't expect more than you're willing to pay for. Want fast service and immediate appt's? Either accept inferior, hurried care or be willing to pay a premium. An empty slot pays nothing. So if a doc is just sitting around to see you at your pleasure, you're gonna have to pay for it. Just like any other business.

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That should be illegal, but I think proves my point.

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Using a misunderstood analysis of some data would probably prove a misunderstood analysis of an entire profession.

Good info WaWaWeeWa, thanks.

Could you explain your screen name? It's quite unique and interesting.

I know a surgeon whose so absent minded he can't drive...

Haha it's actually not that interesting. Ever seen Borat?

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This is a CRAZY bad idea, I agree.

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But it's coming and will do nothing to affect quality of care. I've already looked at it and it will be easy as shite to game the system and give shite care. Meanwhile, well meaning doctors will be punished. It sounds good in theory, but insurances are doing it to place penalties on "bad" providers while offering minimal incentives to "good" ones. They will also use it to drive patients to "low cost" physicians. Doctors will be incentivized to do less. This is not more efficient care. It has been tried before and has been a flaming failure.

And like I said, it'll be easy to game the system. And if it is based on costs per pt, we'll increase our number of low cost patients. The high costs patients will either see the shite-arse leftover doc's or pay cash to see their preferred provider. Just like in Europe. I can wait!!!! Those of us in demand will stay in demand and our work will be at a premium cost. It may take a little bit to line out but if you're good and willing to take your licks, I have a feeling it will be a boon for high quality physicians. But it will not be due directly to quality measures, but by the bullshite environment it will create.