It’s the only way to entice new graduates into the field:
I have written before about these specialties being grossly undervalued in our society. At the very least, it is time to recognize this and ensure that primary care specialties, with the the cognitive and coordinating value they bring, are reimbursed on par with procedural specialties. This is the only way young doctors will choose these specialties.
Related posts:
- The death of primary care: The numbers tell it all
- Universal coverage and primary care
- Primary care disrespect starts early in medical school
- "We have to make primary care a more attractive profession"
- Can we rely on IMGs to help with the primary care shortage?
- Primary care as a loss leader
- A young physician writes to Barack Obama
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The doctor shortage will cross all specialties but the lack of primary care doctors is the most worrisome. Every Western Country uses primary care as the base of its national health care. Without it, we will continue to decline as a healthy country. Botox, Laser skin treatments and joint replacements will benefit the wealthy who can pay cash and there will be no healthy folks to mow their lawns! Wake up America!
Maybe I’m an outlier, but I see a silver lining. When primary care docs get rare enough, the value will be perceived. I don’t predict payment will go up, as much as I’ll see the docs dropping out of insurance and it will become the cash business medicine was two generations ago. Insurance will still be there, but patients will pay, and then be reimbursed out of network.
Many patients, today, will go to a specialist for their primary care. Just consider how many women go to their GYN for routine issues, not related to the practice of GYN.
GYN IS a primary care specialty.
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