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To: Texas Songwriter

I hear you. Largely agree.
Saw what was coming and quit a hospital-employed practice (primary care IM) about a year ago. Glad I did. Fed up with the changes even then. But am keeping my irons in the fire for now—working part time in a specialty clinic a few shifts per week. Not sure what the future will bring, and I think keeping credentials up to date may provide me useful flexibility when the SHTF. Have you considered Locums?
BTW—largely agree with your analysis of UC clinics. Most around hear staffed with mid-levels. A few are OK. Sorry to hear of your daughter’s experience. Every doc should know when and how to evaluate an acute abdomen. Physical diagnosis 101.


59 posted on 02/16/2014 12:50:11 PM PST by Carborundum
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To: Carborundum
I think it is good to keep your options. I, too, have kept my credentials. Yes, I have considered locum tenens. I have considered going up to a small town in Wyoming and/or Alaska,….give the doc a rest and vacation and go see the country. They sometimes put you up in the doctors home while he is away. No surgery, mostly general practice type stuff. Luckily my financial circumstances are in good shape and I do not need to, but just for patient contact, meet some new people, see a different part of the country. I don't know…..it seems the older I get the lazier I get. I have a farm with about 150 Angus cows and enjoy fooling with them. Nature seems less stressful in my circumstances. Got 5 lakes on my place. Fish, ducks, deer. I used to like to deer hunt, but I'v gotten soft-hearted and don't want to kill another thing. Just enjoy their beauty.

My daughter is fine. She was out of the hospital in 23 hours after laparoscopic appendectomy.

What concerns me is that an unsuspecting public has been sold a bill of goods. There will be no going back. In one fell swoop obama took over every doctor and hospital and insurance policy. The public has no clue what is about to befall them. We and the hospitals are partly to blame. The public gets an inventory or what they are charged for…..$5 for an aspirin or tylenol…..$9 for a box of kleenex…….The public knows nothing of cost-shifting or logistical requirements or how many people (salaries) take that kleenex box to get to their room. They see it as being outrageous. Perhaps it is. Hell, (and this happened many times) if someone is down and out, and I want to do a free surgery on someone, HCFA says I can't unless I charge the government (medicare) the same rate I offered the indigent. I have to make the same "good-faith" effort to collect the bill. So there you are. I would have been happy to take a chicken or let someone clean a fence line for my services…..not all the time….but on those down-and-putters. So,also, the public knows nothing of cost-shifting from performing medicaid procedures (does not allow doc to break even) to a private insurance policy. It was finally rejected by the insurance companies and government and this was Obama's opening, and he took it.

Now, as inequitable as seemed to be, the ACA will be truly a debauch.

64 posted on 02/16/2014 4:50:52 PM PST by Texas Songwriter
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