Richard Reece summarizes the ridiculous comparison between physicians salaries here and abroad:
Sermo readers, some of whom had practiced in Europe, commented,“¢Americans must pay off educational debts of up to $200,000 while European college and medical training is subsidized.
“¢Europeans may work half the hours of Americans.
“¢Europeans enjoy miniscule malpractice costs.
“¢American practice costs are higher.
To sum up, comparative incomes of American and European doctors must be put in cultural context.
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Cultural context? Would the American allopathic community trade its semi-autonomy and potential pay scale for what the European allopathic community has in terms of government control? I doubt it (even with all of the whining and crying and teeth gnashing that we see). Instead what the providers want is the American system when it comes to soaking the patient populace but the perks of the European system when it comes to cost of education (BTW, half of the medical training costs are already subsidized domestically), work hours and liability. You only get to pick one and if most providers want the potential for the big bucks through specialties then you get the rest of the American system as well.
The cultures are vastly different. Obviously, Europeans and Americasn both want qualiy healthcare, but Americasn are much more demanding, as in “I want it now!” and “I want the best”. Does anyone think the public will tolerate scenarios where they must wait in line to get the chemotherapy they need? Or the MRI that might help diagnose them? I’m sure if we just remind them that all the poor and underinsured/uninsured are being covered by the system, they will smile and say “Oh then, its worth the long waits”? does that sound like typical American thinking?
“BTW, half of the medical training costs are already subsidized domestically”
Ummm, I’m sorry. Just which parts of my education were subsizdized? Cause I would love to get that money back from Citibank Student Loan Corp that I’m owed.
Think upon the exact terminology used. “Training costs..” It will come to you if you think hard enough.
“soaking the patient populace”????
I charge a lower hourly rate than my accountant and my lawyer, have higher practice costs, and went to school twice as long. How is that soaking?? I think it is a bargin for my patients.
In fact, it is about the same hourly rate as I paid a tradesman to come to my house this weekend.
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