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Doctor Shortage, the Next Pandemic
Publius' Forum ^ | October 6, 2007 | Nancy Salvato

Posted on 07/25/2009 10:45:06 AM PDT by Brilliant

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We would not need health insurance reform, if the politicians would focus on increasing the supply of health care by eliminating the doctor shortage.
1 posted on 07/25/2009 10:45:08 AM PDT by Brilliant
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To: Brilliant

If you look at the Republican process diagram of the Obamacare program, you’ll see there are a couple of programs for community organizers to bring people into the health care field.

And then we’ll have a shortage of people picking up debris alongside the highway.


2 posted on 07/25/2009 10:47:19 AM PDT by LA Conservative (Abu Hussein is not my president, he's a Marxist brother)
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To: Brilliant

I will read the long article.

But the UK cannot get people to become doctors with their onerous problems relating to their nationalized healthcare. so they have to import doctors from Pakistan!


3 posted on 07/25/2009 10:47:21 AM PDT by BunnySlippers (I LOVE BULL MARKETS . . .)
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To: Brilliant

Instead of all the smart young people going to medical school to become doctors... they will all learn how to trade carbon credits... the next GREAT commodity scam...


4 posted on 07/25/2009 10:47:58 AM PDT by John123 (Turn on your teleprompter Obama and read your lips... "No New Taxes!!")
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To: Brilliant

Well, DUH!....

Who would want to go into a profession where you are guaranteed to be sued on a regular basis?

Only those who are truly dedicated and PASSIONATE about helping others despite the risks are willing to pursue their dreams in this fashion.... and how do you encourage more people to have these qualities?

Pssst.... it’s not through punishment.


5 posted on 07/25/2009 10:56:16 AM PDT by Safrguns
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To: John123

Since becoming a doctor has such a long gestation phase and is so expensive - what does the Obama Administration think prospective MD’s are going to do when they (the Administration) start to tinker with the return on investment in that education/certification? What part of this is Ezekiel Emmanuel unable to anticipate?


6 posted on 07/25/2009 10:56:41 AM PDT by Wally_Kalbacken
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To: Wally_Kalbacken

bookmark


7 posted on 07/25/2009 11:09:37 AM PDT by Pajamajan ( Pray for our nation. Thank the Lord for everything you have. Ask His forgiveness. Don't wait.)
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To: Brilliant

As would an increase in the number of para-professionals like physicians assistants. Only that’s not in the best interests of MDs (financially). MDs have an interest in a short supply of health care providers. And yes it’s an arduous profession to learn, and no one wants just any C student to work on them. That said, fewer barriers to entry and as noted elsewhere, tort law reform would help encourage supply. And no, we don’t need to import doctors and nurses like the NHS does in Britain.


8 posted on 07/25/2009 11:13:24 AM PDT by RKV (He who has the guns makes the rules)
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To: Brilliant
There is already a significant manpower shortage in oncology. We have had trouble recruiting new physicians, and it is becoming harder to treat Medicare patients without co-pay insurance because the government reimburses us less than what it costs us to purchase the drug in many instances, and the patient often cannot pay the 20% of Medicare allowable payment.
9 posted on 07/25/2009 11:17:15 AM PDT by SC DOC
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To: Brilliant
According to the AMA, in many communities around the United States, there is a physician shortage,

This in my opinion is something the Republicans bear a burden of blame for. College and University Medical program offerings could easily be expanded 50% and still be very competitive.

10 posted on 07/25/2009 11:18:38 AM PDT by fso301
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To: Brilliant

You think there is a shortage now? Just wait for Obamacare.


11 posted on 07/25/2009 11:21:25 AM PDT by Mom MD (Jesus is the Light of the world!)
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To: Safrguns

I am in the process of applying for a nurse practitioner program. I really want to work with vets, especially those suffering from PTSD. Taking care of those that took care of us is my passion.


12 posted on 07/25/2009 11:26:38 AM PDT by Enough_Deceit (Proud Mama of a US Marine and a US Soldier Bitterly Hanging On to Her Guns and Religion. Ooorahh!)
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To: fso301

I agree. But I would put the blame mainly on the Liason Committee for Medical Education. This is an organization run by the AMA, teaching hospitals, and medical schools that accredits medical schools. For the last 50-100 years, they have successfully made the case that we have a physician surplus, and to address that, they have used their power of accreditation to restrict the number of medical schools, as well as the enrollment in each. Why the politicians let them get away with it is the story. The Dems have no desire to do anything that might fix the problem, unless it involves socializing the health care system. The last thing they want is to solve the problem short of socialism. The GOP is simply afraid to confront the health care establishment. Part of it, no doubt, is that the doctors are a large part of their base, particularly their financial base.


13 posted on 07/25/2009 11:32:22 AM PDT by Brilliant
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To: Brilliant
why go to college, take the most difficult classes, not the sociology and psychology and the history of lizards, do extremely well, then go to med school, then to an internship, and then find a office or clinic that will hire you, giving you the worse schedule, only to find that you can get your whole family estate wiped out by huge premiums.....AND you face $200,000 loans.....

and you could have been a teacher, taken the socilogy and psychology,and the history of lizards and get every weekend off, every summer, every Christmas and thanksgiving and spring vacations along with the many fed holidays......its a no brainer....

14 posted on 07/25/2009 11:40:30 AM PDT by cherry
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To: Brilliant
why go to college, take the most difficult classes, not the sociology and psychology and the history of lizards, do extremely well, then go to med school, then to an internship, and then find a office or clinic that will hire you, giving you the worse schedule, only to find that you can get your whole family estate wiped out by huge premiums.....AND you face $200,000 loans.....

and you could have been a teacher, taken the socilogy and psychology,and the history of lizards and get every weekend off, every summer, every Christmas and thanksgiving and spring vacations along with the many fed holidays......its a no brainer....

15 posted on 07/25/2009 11:40:36 AM PDT by cherry
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To: Brilliant

Essentially unknown to the public, a pilot program by the govt. in NY in 1999 or 2000, reduced the number of training residency slots in ALL specialties in ALL training facilities in NY to see of the training institutions could adapt well to the reduction of MDs in specialty training. They did. The medical staff coped with the reduction of residents in a satisfactory manner. The next year, the training slots for ALL specialties in ALL states were reduced by 25%!!! The production of medical specialists in the US was significantly curtailed, and, has not been readjusted since. Articles about this appeared in the medical journals of the time in very low volume, but, within the medical community, there was little attention paid.


16 posted on 07/25/2009 11:44:25 AM PDT by givemELL (Does Taiwan Meet the Criteria to Qualify as an "Overseas Territory of the United States"? by Richar)
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To: RKV

And the sad thing is, most of a doctor’s work is only semi-skilled these days. For all but the most involved cases, a PA or RN has enough training and clinical experience to handle routine cases.


17 posted on 07/25/2009 11:44:40 AM PDT by Salgak (Acme Lasers presents: The Energizer Border: I dare you to try and cross it. . .)
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To: RKV

Not only do MD’s not have an interest in the short supply, but I would be happy to have more help. How do you tell a bright young college graduate to go to 4 years of medical school, followed by 3-7 years of residency working horrendous hours with minimal pay, only to get out in the real world and work even longer days with too much regulation, lawyers and demanding patients second guessing and criticizing your every move, and huge student loans all to make less than most professionals? Especially since the other professionals get a 3-7 year headstart on the earning potential with much less accumulated debt.

Now do you understand part of the doctor shortage? I could go on...trust me.


18 posted on 07/25/2009 11:45:55 AM PDT by Mom MD (Jesus is the Light of the world!)
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To: cherry

It is not a no brainer. People like to do things that are interesting, require brains and serve their fellow man. There will always be doctors no matter what they do, just not as many.


19 posted on 07/25/2009 11:46:57 AM PDT by cajungirl (no)
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To: Brilliant

One thing reducing the # of physicians is early retirement when they would prefer to keep working, also driven by exhaustion with the litigousness.


20 posted on 07/25/2009 11:52:52 AM PDT by Mamzelle (boycott Peggy Swoonin')
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