Comments on: Medical students want to become primary care doctors, until reality hits http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2009/08/medical-students-want-to-become-primary-care-doctors-until-reality-hits.html Tue, 14 Feb 2012 23:57:00 +0000 hourly 1 By: Rob Laihttp://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2009/08/medical-students-want-to-become-primary-care-doctors-until-reality-hits.html#comment-109342 Rob Lai Thu, 13 Aug 2009 15:32:48 +0000 http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/?p=39358#comment-109342 For anyone interested, here is a video relevant to this discussion from The Doctor's Channel. It discusses factors contributing to aspiring doctors' disinterest in primary care, as well as several proposed solutions. http://www.thedoctorschannel.com/video/2289.html For anyone interested, here is a video relevant to this discussion from The Doctor’s Channel.
It discusses factors contributing to aspiring doctors’ disinterest in primary care, as well as several proposed solutions.
http://www.thedoctorschannel.com/video/2289.html

]]> By: ninguemhttp://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2009/08/medical-students-want-to-become-primary-care-doctors-until-reality-hits.html#comment-109309 ninguem Wed, 12 Aug 2009 17:14:46 +0000 http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/?p=39358#comment-109309 If practicing in East Podunk is undesirable for a native-born American physician, it's just as undesirable for an American midlevel. Even more so, in a way. At the risk of sounding sexist, to the extent that the midlevels might be more female than male, a single woman often does not want to move out to a rural area.Even more so, if it's undesirable to an American, male or female, it's even more undesirable for someone born outside the USA.The practice demographics of USA midlevels, and international medical graduates, reflect this.The biggest determining factor of getting a doctor into a rural area is being from the area in the first place. If practicing in East Podunk is undesirable for a native-born American physician, it’s just as undesirable for an American midlevel. Even more so, in a way. At the risk of sounding sexist, to the extent that the midlevels might be more female than male, a single woman often does not want to move out to a rural area.

Even more so, if it’s undesirable to an American, male or female, it’s even more undesirable for someone born outside the USA.

The practice demographics of USA midlevels, and international medical graduates, reflect this.

The biggest determining factor of getting a doctor into a rural area is being from the area in the first place.

]]> By: Melbenhttp://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2009/08/medical-students-want-to-become-primary-care-doctors-until-reality-hits.html#comment-109304 Melben Wed, 12 Aug 2009 15:20:18 +0000 http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/?p=39358#comment-109304 Agreed Michael, I would have expected Harvard to set a much higher example.. Agreed Michael, I would have expected Harvard to set a much higher example..

]]> By: Michael Kirsch, M.D.http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2009/08/medical-students-want-to-become-primary-care-doctors-until-reality-hits.html#comment-109299 Michael Kirsch, M.D. Wed, 12 Aug 2009 13:40:22 +0000 http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/?p=39358#comment-109299 Melben, thanks for the link. Very poor PR for Harvard who should be setting a higher example. I think that the mission of academia is often higher than their actions. Melben, thanks for the link. Very poor PR for Harvard who should be setting a higher example. I think that the mission of academia is often higher than their actions.

]]> By: Melbenhttp://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2009/08/medical-students-want-to-become-primary-care-doctors-until-reality-hits.html#comment-109278 Melben Wed, 12 Aug 2009 00:33:26 +0000 http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/?p=39358#comment-109278 Hey Michael,Great article on Harvard's point of view, check out this article on Harvard suspending funding for Primary Care:http://www.thecrimson.com/article.aspx?ref=528576 Hey Michael,

Great article on Harvard’s point of view, check out this article on Harvard suspending funding for Primary Care:

http://www.thecrimson.com/article.aspx?ref=528576

]]> By: Evinxhttp://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2009/08/medical-students-want-to-become-primary-care-doctors-until-reality-hits.html#comment-109273 Evinx Tue, 11 Aug 2009 22:14:20 +0000 http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/?p=39358#comment-109273 There is a small trend in primary care physicians moving toward concierge style, a la MDVIP. As a concierge dr, they limit the practice to 600 patients and start to practice medicine with a more personal touch. The marketplace will move drs to primary care if we allow them to function as drs and not medical automotons. Of course, more govt involvement will not solve the problem just bcs Obama wants it to. Alignment of incentive is what is required + only a freer medical marketplace will allow for that. That is what prices do - they allow for feedback to the supplier network. There is a small trend in primary care physicians moving toward concierge style, a la MDVIP. As a concierge dr, they limit the practice to 600 patients and start to practice medicine with a more personal touch. The marketplace will move drs to primary care if we allow them to function as drs and not medical automotons. Of course, more govt involvement will not solve the problem just bcs Obama wants it to. Alignment of incentive is what is required + only a freer medical marketplace will allow for that. That is what prices do – they allow for feedback to the supplier network.

]]> By: Paulhttp://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2009/08/medical-students-want-to-become-primary-care-doctors-until-reality-hits.html#comment-109272 Paul Tue, 11 Aug 2009 21:48:51 +0000 http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/?p=39358#comment-109272 Market forces are at work here as are so many other forces. Medicine is the same as so many other jobs, but is also sooo much different. I am a surgical subspecialist. I am fairly well compensated for the moment. The stress of my work is quite taxing to me and others of my ilk.My dad's best friend was the only doctor we knew growing up and he is a very successful orthopedic surgeon. He once told me to follow my interests but to also realize the inalienable truth that people in this country will not pay you for what you know, only what you can do.Why do baseball players get paid so much to play a game esp when they don't seem to be working as much as soccer players or linemen in football? It is because in that split second while at the plate as the pitch arrives something very consequential is about to happen that may have great significance and gravity in the course and results of the game....a powerfully pivotal moment. Those moments of intervention with great pivotal situational value have always been seen as having more value.The value of primary care is vast but muddled in the mundane and is often lost to perception. Sad. I don't know what should be done. I hope the cream rises to the top and they can find their way to professional fulfillment. I plan on getting old and in need of expert medical care provided and orchestrated by a smart motivated internist and hope that they have not gone the way of the Do Do bird.Sorry about the spelling. Market forces are at work here as are so many other forces. Medicine is the same as so many other jobs, but is also sooo much different. I am a surgical subspecialist. I am fairly well compensated for the moment. The stress of my work is quite taxing to me and others of my ilk.

My dad’s best friend was the only doctor we knew growing up and he is a very successful orthopedic surgeon. He once told me to follow my interests but to also realize the inalienable truth that people in this country will not pay you for what you know, only what you can do.

Why do baseball players get paid so much to play a game esp when they don’t seem to be working as much as soccer players or linemen in football? It is because in that split second while at the plate as the pitch arrives something very consequential is about to happen that may have great significance and gravity in the course and results of the game….a powerfully pivotal moment. Those moments of intervention with great pivotal situational value have always been seen as having more value.

The value of primary care is vast but muddled in the mundane and is often lost to perception. Sad. I don’t know what should be done. I hope the cream rises to the top and they can find their way to professional fulfillment. I plan on getting old and in need of expert medical care provided and orchestrated by a smart motivated internist and hope that they have not gone the way of the Do Do bird.

Sorry about the spelling.

]]> By: Whitnyhttp://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2009/08/medical-students-want-to-become-primary-care-doctors-until-reality-hits.html#comment-109252 Whitny Tue, 11 Aug 2009 15:50:12 +0000 http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/?p=39358#comment-109252 Hey, Kev, in case you aren't aware, the term "mid-level" isn't PC anymore.http://74.125.155.132/search?q=cache%3AHMjo_zkOdewJ%3Awww.aanp.org%2FAANPCMS2%2FPublications%2FPositionStatementsPapers%2FMLP.htm+use+of+the+term+%22mid-level%22&hl=en&gl=usAh, primary care is simply suffering the same fate that other professions like teaching and those in the social services suffer. It's no surprise. Still, I'm totally excited to begin my career in primary care and I feel grateful to have gotten here. Maybe I'll be whistling a different tune a few years from now when I'm buried in paperwork and crushed by a broken system. Hey, Kev, in case you aren’t aware, the term “mid-level” isn’t PC anymore.

http://74.125.155.132/search?q=cache%3AHMjo_zkOdewJ%3Awww.aanp.org%2FAANPCMS2%2FPublications%2FPositionStatementsPapers%2FMLP.htm+use+of+the+term+%22mid-level%22&hl=en&gl=us

Ah, primary care is simply suffering the same fate that other professions like teaching and those in the social services suffer. It’s no surprise. Still, I’m totally excited to begin my career in primary care and I feel grateful to have gotten here. Maybe I’ll be whistling a different tune a few years from now when I’m buried in paperwork and crushed by a broken system.

]]> By: Dr. Grumpyhttp://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2009/08/medical-students-want-to-become-primary-care-doctors-until-reality-hits.html#comment-109238 Dr. Grumpy Tue, 11 Aug 2009 12:14:44 +0000 http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/?p=39358#comment-109238 I've been in solo neurology practice for 10 years, and am surprised to hear people think I am making a fortune at this. I work 80 hours/week and make enough to cover my office and support my family, but looking at my numbers I'm pretty sure the internists in my building are making about the same. I’ve been in solo neurology practice for 10 years, and am surprised to hear people think I am making a fortune at this. I work 80 hours/week and make enough to cover my office and support my family, but looking at my numbers I’m pretty sure the internists in my building are making about the same.

]]> By: dennishttp://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2009/08/medical-students-want-to-become-primary-care-doctors-until-reality-hits.html#comment-109224 dennis Tue, 11 Aug 2009 06:02:09 +0000 http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/?p=39358#comment-109224 You are spot on. Over the years of being a patient, I've noticed great differences in the work hours and earning potentials of different medical professionals.It is but practical for people to look after themselves, for if they don't, no one else will. You are spot on. Over the years of being a patient, I’ve noticed great differences in the work hours and earning potentials of different medical professionals.

It is but practical for people to look after themselves, for if they don’t, no one else will.

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