Posted on 10/21/2012 10:11:13 AM PDT by NYer
The Physicians Foundation has completed one of the largest and most comprehensive physician surveys ever conducted in the United States. The new survey covers a number of topics, ranging from what they think about ObamaCare to how satisfied they are in their careers, from whether they will continue to accept Medicare and Medicaid patients to what they think about the current state of the medical profession. The whole thing is worth reading, but here are a few highlights:
It's clear that doctors are getting fed up. Most of them would retire today if they could. That's particularly troubling, given the fact that Illinois is already facing a doctor shortage. According to state and federal data, there are primary care provider shortages in all but five of Illinois' 102 counties. To make matters worse, half of recent medical graduates are fleeing the state. The Association of American Medical Colleges further predicts that there will be a doctor shortage in the United States of 62,900 by 2015, even without doctors retiring in droves. Based on the current distribution of doctors among the states, Illinois' share of that shortage would be 2,740.
The only question left is: how much longer will you have to wait for your next appointment?
I don’t think it is so shocking that 63% would retire today if they could. Heck, I would 100% retire today if I could! I have known a few doctors and those people work thier flipping asses off. I could not keep up I swear.
May I suggest that Freepers who read this visit the American Association of Physicians and Surgeons web site for and excellent resource for research and Physicians' opinions on medical care and government's disastrous effects for both patients and physicians.
This organization has been fighting for the rights of patients and doctors since 1943 and can provide an excellent source for information.
Freedom is too valuable to be thwarted by so-called "progressives" who use health care as a vehicle and cover for imposing tyranny under the guise of "helping" us.
This is exactly what is happening in MA as a result of Obamacare. The age of the General Practitioner are going the way of the horse and buggy.
I was talking to my PCP, a high school friend, the other day. He was saying his practice stopped taking medicare and medicaide several years ago after they just arbitrarily cut his payments. The electronic filing requirements are going to kill them as well. The manpower costs to transfer their files to electronic system is huge.
Its not about being greedy. Its about having to spend more time on paperwork than being a Doctor. He said the area (with about 600,000 people) could stand at least 15-20 PCPs.
I asked why we did not just create clinics with young doctors—pay them a decent wage, but also pay off their college debt and group them for malpractice. That would be cost effective and take the pressure off from the ERs.
It made sense...but thats why no one will do it. Some hospital is going to glom onto that model and it will become a standard. The free market would win overall.
That’s a really good idea. Probably at least 75% of ER visits could be handled by a doc in a box. Another cost-effective solution are observation holding areas for ERs where they can move patients that are waiting on test results that will determine whether they are admitted or treated and sent home. Without such holding areas, ER docs admit these patients to free up ER beds. But, often the patient is discharged from the hospital unit within a few hours, thus wasting a whole lot of resources for nothing.
You are absolutely correct in identifying this video as both urgent and chilling. From a lifetime of voting (I have not missed an election in 40+ years), I can assure you that the majority of Americans will not take time out to watch this YouTube video. In contemporary society, people live on sound bites. There is, however, a very powerful way to communicate the same information to all Americans, in less than 30 seconds. I don't know why the Republican campaign has not used it but perhaps some independent group will. Here it is:
"After my election, I will have more flexibility ..."
That image and sound bite should be turned into a political ad with a simple message at the conclusion: "You decide!"
I am underwhopped. I bet at least 61% of anybody "would retire today if they had the ability to do so."
Go ask a sample of people in general, what they would do if they won a 100 million dollar Lottery tonight, see how many would report for work as usual tomorrow morning--or ever.
Chris Rock: You cant really do your gangsta sh*t until your second term
Obama on Hot Mic tells Russian PM "After Election I Have More Flexibilty" 3/26/2012
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.