50 million new patients? More primary docs a must

Yahoo News ^ | September 13, 2009 | STEVE LeBLANC, Associated Press Writer

[backtothestreets]

BOSTON – When Dr. Robert Flaherty launched a private practice in 2001, he soon found himself cramming in as many patients as possible to make ends meet, leaving little time to discuss with them the steps they could take to prevent future health troubles.

"I constantly felt that conflict of going faster than I should," said Flaherty, 40, of Mashpee, who gave up his practice after four years for a hospital post. "Everyone knows if you want to make a decent living, become a specialist; if you want to be banging your head, go into primary care."

Among the many hurdles facing President Barack Obama's plan to revamp the nation's health care system is a shortage of primary care physicians — those legions of overworked doctors who provide the front line of medical care for both the sick and those hoping to stay healthy.

--EXCERPT-- Click link to read full article

[backtothestreets]

This article touches very lightly upon the real problem with healthcare in the USA. What it does not tell is that CONGRESS controls the number and size of our medical schools. In 1985, and again in 1998, Congress passed legislation that was signed by President Reagan and Clinton respectively, that closed some medical schools and reduced the capacity of the remaining schools.

Medical services are no different than any other service or commodity. Cut the supply and the costs will rise.

The current "healthcare crisis" is a sham created by the two political parties.

[krb]

Threads that discuss the need for more docs attract good discussions from freeper docs. They tend to fight tooth and nail against training more doctors.

[rawhide]

Import immigrant doctors!

[Slyfox]

"It's like giving everyone free bus passes, but there are only two buses," he said.

Great quote.

[GnuHere]

Too important to fail - time for a bailout!
Oh wait, that’s just for cars and stuff, not people who try to save lives.

[RSmithOpt]

3 phrases:

Tort Reform

Illegal Aliens

Goobermint Bureaucracy

[CaspersGh0sts]

The number of medical schools has been increasing. Take a look. The University of Texas is opening a new one in Austin. DO schools are popping up across the country—most recently in Tennessee, if I recall.

That said, this isn’t going to solve the problem of the shortage of primary care doctors. When you get paid far, far less than a specialist and are forced to cram you appointments into 10-minute windows, spending maybe a quarter of your time in dictation, you’re just not going to go that route.

I actually know docs in rural locations who just had to pack up their operations and leave because their nurses were making more than they were and they felt as if they were wronging their patients in shortening appointment lengths.

This is the affect of Medicare’s ever shrinking rates of reimbursement for primary care and the far more lucrative practices of imaging and procedures. In many classes, the number of radiologists far, far exceeds the number of primary care doctors, and there’s a reason for that.

[CaspersGh0sts]

Then there’s the other issue: who wants to start their career at 33, with $250k in student loans, making 125-130k per year?

By the time the government steals “their share,” well, you’ve got a pretty punitive student load debt to pay off.

[RU88]

I wonder what will be going through the mind of a suburban soccer mom whose child's urgent surgery is delayed to take care of the more pressing needs of an illegal alien?

[raybbr]

I guess you may not have noticed that the health care bill takes care of this problem. It requires all health care students who take federal money to sign up for the "Health Care Corps" and then be beholden to the feds for everything.

How many young people and willing foreigners will sign up for the "Corps" just so they can get the Dr. after their name?

[Caipirabob]

HI EVERYODY!

[meyer]

50 million new patients? I doubt it. Even the uninsured are already getting health care in this country so there would be no additional patients as a result of Socialist
Government Health Care. What there would be is a mass exodus of doctors due to government price controls.

[danamco]

Important Message please watch both of them ....

The You Tube links below are Part 1 and 2 of a tape made by a 2 senior citizens. He and his wife made the tape from their ranch in south-central Texas.
At their own expense, they made 1000 copies and sent one to every single congressman and senator and some media outlets.
Let’s hope that each and every one of them watched and LISTENED!!!

When the 1st tape ends a link should come up for you to watch Part 2. If you think this is important, please do pass it on..

http://www.YouTube.com/watch?v=j7sQHunYdN8

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0MJsF11PsnQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8RxKFkyt-I0