Doctors Struggle to Stay Afloat in Economic Crisis

Many things have changed in the doctor patient relationship of today's world. No longer do patients see only men, do kids get lollipops after the survival of a shot, or do appointments run on schedule. No, things have changed, the question when evaluating your doctor is, how far have you allowed your doctor to go? Are you willing to sit in the office lounge for an hour flipping through a useless magazine for a mere 5-minute appointment? You are not alone. Our dwindling economy has backed them into a corner, forcing doctors to cut corners and reevaluate their methods and ways of thinking in an effort to stay afloat.

At the head of this crisis are our family care physicians, internists, geriatrics, and pediatricians with thousands now out of work. The New York Times shows that they are struggling due to the monetary problems of their patients. Presently, many people are without insurance and in between jobs, so problems ranging from a runny nose, to a fever, to even strep throat or hives are trying to be cured by over the counter drugs instead of a trip to the primary care physician. Currently, there is a proposal to provide health insurance for the 45 million Americans now without it, but many fear that will only worsen situations.

According to a recent study by The Journal of the American Medical Association, the number of medical students choosing to train in internal medicine has dropped and young physicians have actually left the field, disappointed by their discovery of real life experiences. In a quick peek through doctoral rounds and studies, it is easy to see that they are preparing themselves for a rough road, overworked, stressfilled, and underappreciated. Instead of patients being top priority, many feel the pressures of insurance, the hassle of paperwork, and the strenuous work pace to squash their desires.

Positions such as family medicine and gerontology have also reported drops, but primary care specialties are steadfast in doctoral values. These doctors spend far more time with their patients, helping them cope with an illness, performing tests, or averting crisis. They are willing to listen and offer guidance without judgment, and more often than not, they are the doctors who have been around for decades, knowing the heritage of who stands before them.

Last year, Dr. Allen Bowling, a neurologist affiliated with the Rocky Mountain Multiple Sclerosis Center, decided to convert his "busy, high overhead, insurance-based M.S. practice to one that has lower overhead, is moderately busy, and does not accept any private or government insurance." He explained that we live in an age where time is pressed, so patients show up expecting to walk into their scheduled appointment even if they are late, while doctors are overbooked and lagging from lengthy diagnoses. That is why there are a growing number of independent physicians forcing patients to pay out of pocket. It eliminates the stress and paperwork of insurance and allows doctors to focus solely on sickness instead of the constant hassle of money.

Some of the more interesting plights come from salaried physicians, like Douglas Dossman. A well-respected doctor and co-director of the Center for Functional Gastrointestinal and Motility Disorders at the University of North Carolina, he runs a renowned clinic where patients are treated regardless of their payment abilities. The salaries of he and his colleagues do not cover his innovative program's vast expenses, leading them to search for grants from foundations and industry to keep their program alive. Treating patients with life-disrupting chronic conditions like irritable bowel syndrome, his clinic excels in keeping the sick emotionally stable throughout all stages of treatment.

Simply put, good doctors, ones who know their patients well and deliver informed medical care with efficiency and empathy are a dying breed. Worse, we're responsible for their slaughter because just like the rest of us, doctors are just trying to survive in our flailing economy. They get paid primarily for procedures, from blood tests, to allergy shots, to surgery, and they receive compensation for the amount of patients stopping by. So, as you can see, chatter gets them nothing but behind schedule, and in an effort to speed things up, many have tossed paperwork to the wind.