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How Being a Doctor Became the Most Miserable Profession
Daily Beast ^ | 04/15/2014

Posted on 04/15/2014 5:13:58 AM PDT by SeekAndFind

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To: SeekAndFind

Many have quit or are quitting.


61 posted on 04/15/2014 8:53:51 AM PDT by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
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To: freeangel

Since I’m an OldPossum, I have had contact with Medicare-accepting doctors. Fortunately, I live within driving distance to Charlottesville, Virginia, home to many quality doctors. So, I have not had to deal with foreign doctors. I’m sure they’re out there, but I have no experience with them.


62 posted on 04/15/2014 9:06:04 AM PDT by OldPossum ("It's" is the contraction of "it" and "is"; think about ITS implications.)
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To: sitetest

The problem is getting enough business, I have one friend and one acquaintance that have tried and gone bust. I looked into it myself about 7 years ago, capital costs were outrageous and recurrent cost were very high, I decided to continue working for the man for the time being.


63 posted on 04/15/2014 9:08:40 AM PDT by dangerdoc
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To: wastoute
A 5 year old beaten to death by his father

One of my worst experiences as a Neurology Resident at Charity Hospital - New Orleans, was a 7 day old infant, shaken to death by their “Father” with the Mother making excuses for him, in my presence. The infants brain had taken on the texture of tapioca pudding...

One of two times I permitted Murder into this Heart.

64 posted on 04/15/2014 9:14:57 AM PDT by HangnJudge
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To: Osage Orange

Thanks.


65 posted on 04/15/2014 9:19:43 AM PDT by sitetest (If Roe is not overturned, no unborn child will ever be protected in law.)
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To: dangerdoc
Dear dangerdoc,

I live in a semi-rural area that is within spitting distance of two large cities, so I think because of the density of population, it may be easier here.

Also, our state “reformed” health insurance some years ago, and we've been living with Deathcare-like rates for a long time. I took my company to a high-deductible plan with an HSA a long time ago, so we've had over a decade for the health economy in our region to “mature” to a point where concierge medicine is more on par with regular health insurance, cost-wise.

I suspect that if Deathcare isn't repealed or dramatically altered, this model will become increasingly appealing, because the costs for Deathcare will exceed the costs of this model. Alternatively, if folks were to wake up, we'd find that it'd be a good idea to replace Deathcare with a legal infrastructure that supported and encouraged this model.


sitetest

66 posted on 04/15/2014 9:20:33 AM PDT by sitetest (If Roe is not overturned, no unborn child will ever be protected in law.)
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To: SeekAndFind

Mission accomplished. The lefties have had a death wish for evil profiteering doctors. It just is so cruel that they get paid for their decades oftraining and education. Obama demonized tgem for years and now stomped the life out of them with Obamacare. Docs will continue to be his punching bag strawman until the day Obama dies.


67 posted on 04/15/2014 9:36:21 AM PDT by Organic Panic
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To: headstamp 2
I had the opportunity to listen to the trials and tribulations of my cousin -- who is a physician -- and the pile of bills he accumulated from his kidney stone. Which was managed at his own hospital. (He is self-employed and so has Obamacare -- his story about applying for Obamacare was a hoot listen to also!)

As was noted in the original article, what Obamacare does is codify a highly dysfunctional system into law. My own estimate is that if the gov't hadn't been involved in screwing up health care for decades, medical care in the US would cost half as much and be twice as effective. (Note to self, go to kitchen and get another bottle of water.)

68 posted on 04/15/2014 10:10:21 AM PDT by Sooth2222 ("Suppose you were an idiot. And suppose you were a member of congress. But I repeat myself." M.Twain)
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To: SamAdams76

They pay out of pocket, then seek reimbursement from the insurance companies themselves.

This takes the burden off the doctor and puts it where it belongs, as an issue to be worked out between a patient and their insurance company.


69 posted on 04/15/2014 10:34:41 AM PDT by TexasFreeper2009 (Obama lied .. the economy died.)
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To: TexasFreeper2009
OK, so insurance is involved. I had thought you were talking about just having patients pay cash. That, I just can't see happening.

It used to be the case that you paid the doctor. My father still has a doctor's bill from when he was born that my grandfather paid. The entire cost of delivering a child at that time was $17.50. That was in 1937.

70 posted on 04/15/2014 10:51:36 AM PDT by SamAdams76
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To: SamAdams76
By doing things that way, all the pressure is applied exactly where it should be when an insurance company refuses to pay. The customer says... um.. well if your not going to cover my treatment I will just switch switch insurance companies (at which point the insurance company quickly pays)

The problem is when it's the doctor that has to deal with the insurance company, they have no leverage. All they can do it send a bill to the customer for whatever the insurance refused to pay and hope that the customer pays it.

Fighting with insurance company's and patients over payment is very stressful, costly, and time consuming. By making this one change, a doctor can transform his practice from one he hates to one he once again loves.

Will some people not want to deal with this? sure! and they are free to go get in line with the cattle at the hospital, but those who want to be treated in a timely manner by someone they know and trust will gladly take this deal.

71 posted on 04/15/2014 11:14:13 AM PDT by TexasFreeper2009 (Obama lied .. the economy died.)
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To: TexasFreeper2009

Very interesting. Of course, if you are not healthy or you have a long-term condition (i.e. diabetes; heart disease; cancer), your insurance company might actually want you to switch companies. For somebody who is healthy however, this would definitely be the way to go.


72 posted on 04/15/2014 11:35:28 AM PDT by SamAdams76
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To: headstamp 2

I decided I’m going to call the outfit that provided the professional “services rendered” and tell them that I don’t remember them being present because if I did have $1,018 worth of “professional services” in 1.5 hours and survived I would jolly well remember it and be back for more!


73 posted on 04/15/2014 3:52:09 PM PDT by Sequoyah101
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To: TexasFreeper2009
quit working for the hospital, go to a small town and open your own practice and don’t accept medicare, medicaid, or insurance and all your problems will magically go away.

And your practice will likely be restricted to coughs, sore throats, bruises, ring worm and warts........anything else you'll probably be referring out........LOL!

And your income will likely be in the $30K range............

74 posted on 04/15/2014 3:59:36 PM PDT by Hot Tabasco (Under Reagan spring always arrived on time.....)
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To: Sooth2222
I wouldn't advise anyone with the desire and talent to not go into medicine,

I would.......considering what my nephew went thru and the years of training to become a certified Harvard trained Thorasic Surgeon, he should have become an electrician............

He would have had almost 20 years of experiencing life, making good money and having fun while raising a family...

It wasn't until about 4 years ago, at the age of 38, when he finished up his Harvard fellowship at Mass. General in Boston and was able to finally come home and take on a permanent job as a thorasic surgeon with the Beaumont Hospital group.

That was all fine and good but he's working 6 days a week with sometimes 16 hours a day in surgery and on call when he's not working........That's not a life I would want............

75 posted on 04/15/2014 4:17:12 PM PDT by Hot Tabasco (Under Reagan spring always arrived on time.....)
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To: Hot Tabasco
Well, yes, you will not be able to do major surgeries, but those procedures are typically referred to the major hospitals anyway, as they are with most private practices.

And all the doctors I know that do this are worth north of 10 million, and have all the patients they wish.

I can not understand why you and others deny this to be true. Apparently you think no one has money to pay doctors? because I hate to inform you but people pay large amounts out of pocket for medical procedures all the time that are not covered by insurance, medicare or medicaid. Procedures such as face lifts, tummy tucks, lasik eye surgery, liposuction, hair transplants, and hair removal are never covered by insurance, and other treatments like In vitro fertilization or needed care for pets are rarely covered. And most people dont have dental insurance and must pay out of pocket. The list goes on and on.

76 posted on 04/16/2014 5:32:37 AM PDT by TexasFreeper2009 (Obama lied .. the economy died.)
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