Comments on: Health care reform needs to improve physician satisfaction http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2009/10/health-care-reform-improve-physician-satisfaction.html Wed, 15 Feb 2012 00:14:00 +0000 hourly 1 By: MDhttp://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2009/10/health-care-reform-improve-physician-satisfaction.html#comment-116298 MD Sat, 31 Oct 2009 17:18:39 +0000 http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/?p=40778#comment-116298 The reformers are all lawyers and have no interest what-so-ever in improving the quality of physician working conditions and satisfaction. In fact, Pete Stark (D-California) has been quoted: " I want to make sure no mother will ever want her child to become a doctor". The reformers are all lawyers and have no interest what-so-ever in improving the quality of physician working conditions and satisfaction. In fact, Pete Stark (D-California) has been quoted: ” I want to make sure no mother will ever want her child to become a doctor”.

]]> By: Tex Bryanthttp://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2009/10/health-care-reform-improve-physician-satisfaction.html#comment-116159 Tex Bryant Fri, 30 Oct 2009 21:13:38 +0000 http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/?p=40778#comment-116159 Fortunately there are programs and studies that show that there are ways to significantly improve the primary care physicians' income and amount of time to spend with patients. For instance, the American Academy of Family Physicians' TransforMed program demonstrated that physicians in programs assisted to achieve the goals of TransforMed saw average income rise 14%. I spoke to one the physicians in this program and he stated that all of the physicians at the office now have significantly more time to spend with patients.I wrote about this in my July newsletter and similar results in my July newsletter. Fortunately there are programs and studies that show that there are ways to significantly improve the primary care physicians’ income and amount of time to spend with patients. For instance, the American Academy of Family Physicians’ TransforMed program demonstrated that physicians in programs assisted to achieve the goals of TransforMed saw average income rise 14%. I spoke to one the physicians in this program and he stated that all of the physicians at the office now have significantly more time to spend with patients.

I wrote about this in my July newsletter and similar results in my July newsletter.

]]> By: jsmithhttp://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2009/10/health-care-reform-improve-physician-satisfaction.html#comment-116130 jsmith Fri, 30 Oct 2009 18:30:08 +0000 http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/?p=40778#comment-116130 What all of the above said. Doctors' professional satisfaction is irrelevant to decision makers. This might change in the future as the PCP shortage really starts to bite in a big way in this country. It is also possible that we might see even further frantic and counterproductive measures that worsen our satisfaction and worsen the PCP shortage. Never underestimate the stupidity of our overlords. EHRs and email are absolutely wonderful ideas unless you happen to be a doctor who actually has to use them --after office hours when you would be at home with your family if not for the EHRs and email. What all of the above said. Doctors’ professional satisfaction is irrelevant to decision makers. This might change in the future as the PCP shortage really starts to bite in a big way in this country. It is also possible that we might see even further frantic and counterproductive measures that worsen our satisfaction and worsen the PCP shortage. Never underestimate the stupidity of our overlords.
EHRs and email are absolutely wonderful ideas unless you happen to be a doctor who actually has to use them –after office hours when you would be at home with your family if not for the EHRs and email.

]]> By: primaryMDhttp://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2009/10/health-care-reform-improve-physician-satisfaction.html#comment-116097 primaryMD Fri, 30 Oct 2009 13:34:32 +0000 http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/?p=40778#comment-116097 one of the main purposes of reform is to control physician behavior through guidelines, P4P, "evidence based medicine" etc.So good luck with job satisfaction when you'll be increasingly expected to follow protocols (and dinged when you don't) rather than thinking independently about a patient. one of the main purposes of reform is to control physician behavior through guidelines, P4P, “evidence based medicine” etc.

So good luck with job satisfaction when you’ll be increasingly expected to follow protocols (and dinged when you don’t) rather than thinking independently about a patient.

]]> By: Dr. Mary Johnsonhttp://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2009/10/health-care-reform-improve-physician-satisfaction.html#comment-116091 Dr. Mary Johnson Fri, 30 Oct 2009 13:05:19 +0000 http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/?p=40778#comment-116091 What Dr. Kirsch said. The "reformers" do not care at all about physicians or their job satisfaction. We're only here to help them buy votes.Two or three well-placed phone calls from the Feds eleven years ago - enforcing their own rules - would have been all took for me to have a markedly different professional life/experience.Indeed, that's pretty much all it would take now: Along the lines of, "Fix it or go to jail": http://drjshousecalls.blogspot.com/2009/10/exhausting-all-possibilities-coolly.htmlThese people don't really care about doctors. We're cogs on their wheel. Get used to it.And dream on. What Dr. Kirsch said. The “reformers” do not care at all about physicians or their job satisfaction. We’re only here to help them buy votes.

Two or three well-placed phone calls from the Feds eleven years ago – enforcing their own rules – would have been all took for me to have a markedly different professional life/experience.

Indeed, that’s pretty much all it would take now: Along the lines of, “Fix it or go to jail”: http://drjshousecalls.blogspot.com/2009/10/exhausting-all-possibilities-coolly.html

These people don’t really care about doctors. We’re cogs on their wheel. Get used to it.

And dream on.

]]> By: Michael Kirsch, M.D.http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2009/10/health-care-reform-improve-physician-satisfaction.html#comment-116081 Michael Kirsch, M.D. Fri, 30 Oct 2009 11:41:58 +0000 http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/?p=40778#comment-116081 Regrettably, the health care reform efforts do little to enhance our professional satisfaction. They were never designed to do so. I'm skeptical that the 'reformers' will accomplish even their stated missions - controlling costs, extending access to the uninsured and increasing medical quality. Will they hit a trifecta or strike out? The odds for success are long. Regrettably, the health care reform efforts do little to enhance our professional satisfaction. They were never designed to do so. I’m skeptical that the ‘reformers’ will accomplish even their stated missions – controlling costs, extending access to the uninsured and increasing medical quality. Will they hit a trifecta or strike out? The odds for success are long.

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