Email from a Physician Friend
I get a ton of email each day. Most of it's educational programs. Lately the number of emails from physician recruiters has ballooned. I think, depending on the day, 30-50 % of my email is from recruiters. Some of it is places I wouldn't want to go to (like anywhere else), or work in (like the prison in XXXXX), or am not qualified for (like a Hospitalist) at least any longer. I think there will be a shortage of primary care doctors. For me, there is some unquantifiable value to being of service to people who are sick. On the other hand, the nuisance/harassment factor in my practice is going up by a factor of 10 each year. There isn't much I can do about it.
But for a person considering a career in primary care, what does that look like? Good career, service to humanity, nuisance factor up 10X year, which will eventually consume every free waking moment? For Pete's sake, do a residency in Dermatology. When I tell people about all of this, they always say, "It's Obamacare". Well it isn't.
The majority of crap I have to deal with, by far, is from private insurance companies or companies like Blue Cross. And what I have to deal with in terms of Medicare regulations and paperwork is usually due to overzealous private enterprise (direct to patient drug maketing, diabetic testing supplies, power wheel chairs-"we'll get Medicare to pay for it or we'll pay for it ourselves"-, home care services etc.) Once again, that's PRIVATE companies. PRIVATE insurers. NOT Obamacare...
Yet I still feel privileged and blessed to have the occupation that I have. Just venting after a typical Monday. It could really be different though. Better for doctors. Better for patients. It really could.
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