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.
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.