View Full Version : Apparently doctors have left their jobs too
I need to see a doc for some ongoing health issues. I have been going to the same practice for five years and the two docs I have seen just disappeared in the past year or so. I tried to make an appt with one of the nurse practitioners and was told that it would be at least three weeks. They said if I needed help sooner just go to the ER. So...I began looking for another practice here in town and got the same story at every single one - at least three weeks or longer to see anyone. None have MDs any more - just nurse practitioners and PAs. It is kind of a scary feeling to not have a provider of some sort. I wonder if this is going on in other regions.
happystuff
2-23-22, 2:34pm
Interesting. I wonder where they are going.
If you are a travelling doctor or nurse willing to treat covid patients you can jump around to the hotspots and make big bucks - twice what you were before, all the travel is covered, they pay to put you up in a hotel and all your meals are free.
ApatheticNoMore
2-23-22, 3:31pm
Yes medical personnel are leaving. If they are doctors and older where they might just go is retirement. And why not? Doctors earn very high incomes generally of course, and often work well past the point they could retire, and often enjoy doing so, but after the pandemic that might not be so appealing.
But what about everyone who can't afford to retire? Yes, but after the pandemic there are easier ways to make a decent living than say something like nursing by far. If it's a calling, then thank you, but if it's not then anyone can see there are easier ways to bring in the Benjamin's than being a nurse in a horrific pandemic where people won't even vaccinate etc..
We were very happy with our nurse practitioner yesterday. It was just an annual visit. And yes, it took over 3 weeks but it was no emergency and we have been patients for well over 20 years. They do triage visits by need and keep some appointments for the really sick. They have now gotten two new doctors on staff so it might loosen up a bit.
Indianapolis has a huge medical presence with nine+ various big hospitals within 2 miles of my house and these are just the downtown ones. One of the reasons we like living here.
ToomuchStuff
2-23-22, 5:02pm
I thought Nurse practitioners had to be connected with Dr.'s? They can do a lot, but isn't there some stuff they still have to have the doctor sign off on?
ApatheticNoMore
2-23-22, 5:22pm
How it can work is there is a doctor at that practice, but you never really see them, it's all nurse practitioners, physician assistants etc.. Which isn't always bad, they can often give every bit as good medical care.
I go to a big practice that has a couple dozen offices around the Bay Area. Since I don’t have any health issues beyond HBP I have a PA as my primary. I actually like that since appointments are easily available and he isn’t in a rush the way every doctor I’ve ever been to is. If anything comes up where the PA needs assistance there is a doc available either immediately for them to consult or for a followup visit with the doc directly.
iris lilies
2-23-22, 5:54pm
Yesterday I had a doctors appointment and as planned, saw her nurse practitioner. Our appointments are easier than average to get because I pay for a direct care physician. When I signed onto the service there was no nurse practitioner. I don’t consider it a Switcheroo but I suppose some people could consider it a Switcheroo. Mine was just a typical annual show my face, get my blood pressure medicine renewed, take blood for blood test.
I haven't had a dr. in some years; I see a PA and she's great.
But that is concerning about the loss of doctors; I suspect the traveling. I have read locally about the traveling nurse phenomenon and the strain on care that causes.
We have actually had several homes bought up by investors nearby to be used by traveling nurses. I don't mind seeing PAs and NPs but preferably after they have had more than a year or so of experience.
Thought some more about this. Wondering if there maybe haven't been the new MDs graduating to replace the number retiring. I mean, how hard would it have been the past several years to be in med school and getting through all the requirements?
What we have noticed here is that almost all the doctors are D.O.s. Never even heard of those living elsewhere.
For family practice, they should be approx. the same. https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/consumer-health/expert-answers/osteopathic-medicine/faq-20058168
Yes, a significant number of older doctors, nurses (and teachers, too) are retiring early. COVID has been especially hard on these professions, in many ways, while bureaucratic rules, regulations, paperwork have increased and respect and dignity for professional status have decreased.
Removed link: book home medicine
I found tis book to be very helpful.
Removed link: water freedom
With the invasion in Ukraine, water freedom may soon be very important to us all.
Interesting first post...
Simplemind
3-15-22, 5:51pm
I had three of my doctors retire during the last two years. I think the whole pandemic situation caused them to reassess the way they were able to comfortably practice and they decided to step back. All were close enough to retire to jump if they wanted or stay if they were happy. One of them turned her patients over to a PA. There is another Dr in the practice to watch over. Another I have not been able to find a replacement for and with the third, I was bumped over to somebody else in the practice.
Thanks, Alan, for your diligence.
I need to see a doc for some ongoing health issues. I have been going to the same practice for five years and the two docs I have seen just disappeared in the past year or so. I tried to make an appt with one of the nurse practitioners and was told that it would be at least three weeks. They said if I needed help sooner just go to the ER. So...I began looking for another practice here in town and got the same story at every single one - at least three weeks or longer to see anyone. None have MDs any more - just nurse practitioners and PAs. It is kind of a scary feeling to not have a provider of some sort. I wonder if this is going on in other regions.
My doctor has gone on sabbatical and it's not clear if he's coming back. No dentist either. I lost my dental insurance so I tried a local clinic that takes a sliding scale. They also have no dentist.
A lot of us take having a doctor or dentist for granted. I did until I had a friend in rural Iowa that had to travel 2 hours one way to a cancer specialist and for treatment. If she did not stay overnight, it was a 4 hour trip each day of treatment.
gimmethesimplelife
3-27-22, 8:06pm
Interesting topic. I now have health insurance through my job and I've used it a few times with an open mind. It's been OK overall but I never see a doctor either, only an NP. So my.take is for anything minor, insurance or herbal medicine. For anything serious but not life threatening I'll go to Mexico where I can afford to see an actual MD. For anything immediately life threatening, I'll stay in the US and use my insurance.
No way am I giving up on Mexican health care. My experience has been that not only is Mexican health care much less expensive - it's also more humane.
As to doctors leaving their jobs in the US - I can't say as I blame them. Insurance companies are their true bosses and that's gotta suck as much as waiting tables and having guest perceptions automatically equating with reality. We need doctors but we also need to get insurance companies out of the equation. Rob
gimmethesimplelife
3-27-22, 8:13pm
A lot of us take having a doctor or dentist for granted. I did until I had a friend in rural Iowa that had to travel 2 hours one way to a cancer specialist and for treatment. If she did not stay overnight, it was a 4 hour trip each day of treatment.I'm very fortunate in that Mexico has been there for me when the US has not - no way could I have had dental work done at US prices. As for doctors, for many years getting sick auto-equalled crossing the border. Years ago I actually resented being forced to cross into Mexico for health care - now as life in the US gets more and more expensive, I'm very comfortable with offshoring all that I can.
My point? More and more people will be forced to offshore too given cost of life vs. wages in the US. I'm an early adapter in this respect and I love giving recommendations on who to see in Algodones and Nogales. Rob
It is a bit of a drive from the midwest especially when planes are not an option. I just continue to pay for really good health insurance.
Not apparently, fact. 334,000 healthcare workers have left the workforce since 2021.One year ago, my wife was fired after 23 yrs of service over jab compliance. We both still think it was best decision for us not to take jab. No regrets.
iris lilies
11-26-22, 2:57pm
Not apparently, fact. 334,000 healthcare workers have left the workforce since 2021.One year ago, my wife was fired after 23 yrs of service over jab compliance. We both still think it was best decision for us not to take jab. No regrets.
my brother and sister-in-law were here over Thanksgiving. They’ve been in healthcare for decades. They’re not getting any more the Covid shots. My sister-in-law just retired. My brother will work for a few more years but he does not do direct patient care, so he doesn’t need the Covid shot. He had a weird little heart incident after his last one so he’s concerned about any more of it.
early morning
11-26-22, 3:16pm
One year ago, my wife was fired after 23 yrs of service over jab compliance. Yeah that threat was given to the mother of one of my kid's friends, a surgical nurse of many years. Except she died of covid before she could be dismissed for refusal to comply. Didn't work out so well for her.
NOne year ago, my wife was fired after 23 yrs of service over jab compliance. We both still think it was best decision for us not to take jab. No regrets.
Good luck with that.
Compliance with our vaccination and protective gear protocols has been a condition of my employment for > 10 years now. It seems quite prudent.
I can remember when anti-vax thinking was mainly the province of affluent white moms. Now with Covid it seems to have gone down-market.
But why all the concern over one particular set of vaccines? I don’t remember people quitting their jobs over vaccines for TB or Shingles.
I can remember when anti-vax thinking was mainly the province of affluent white moms. Now with Covid it seems to have gone down-market.
But why all the concern over one particular set of vaccines? I don’t remember people quitting their jobs over vaccines for TB or Shingles.
Because these vaccines were rushed. One of them was not tested on any humans, only eight mice, and all the mice died.
People have lost the ability to think critically.
People have lost the ability to think critically.
How else can we explain Modern Monetary Theory, dogecoin or the NCIS franchise?
iris lilies
11-30-22, 6:08pm
How else can we explain Modern Monetary Theory, dogecoin or the NCIS franchise?
You could write for Carlin. Unfortunately, he is dead.
frugal-one
11-30-22, 8:25pm
I can remember when anti-vax thinking was mainly the province of affluent white moms. Now with Covid it seems to have gone down-market.
But why all the concern over one particular set of vaccines? I don’t remember people quitting their jobs over vaccines for TB or Shingles.
pandemic
Good luck with that.
.
Thank you bae. Good luck to you also.
It was a tough decision for us, after all it cost us 70% of our income by not taking the experimental gene therapy concoction, many refer to as a vaccine.
Money is much tighter for us these days, but I do like having a stay at home wife, as does she.
iris lilies
12-3-22, 5:26pm
Thank you bae. Good luck to you also.
It was a tough decision for us, after all it cost us 70% of our income by not taking the experimental gene therapy concoction, many refer to as a vaccine.
Money is much tighter for us these days, but I do like having a stay at home wife, as does she.
Does your wife have an RN degree? If so there are many jobs she could get that do not require The Jab.
Does your wife have an RN degree? If so there are many jobs she could get that do not require The Jab.
I know a woman fired by a hospital over this recently hired as a school nurse.
iris lilies
12-3-22, 5:38pm
I know a woman fired by a hospital over this recently hired as a school nurse.
My sis in law has worked part time for the Medical examiner’s Office and also for the hospitals system doing transfers. Neither job requires Covid vaccine.
Does your wife have an RN degree? If so there are many jobs she could get that do not require The Jab.
Her degree is in cytotechnology. Basically, she screens (mostly pap smears) for cancer.
She's keeping her options open and considering career change. I talked her out of welding school, thank goodness. We've lived our 31 yrs of marriage with a YMOYL mindset, so I'm fine with her not working. Not sure she feels the same, she's a getter done gal.
My wife's former employer has dropped the "vaccine" mandates, but won't hire back the ones fired for non compliance.
... the experimental gene therapy concoction, many refer to as a vaccine.
....
OOOOOOOOK..........
iris lilies
12-3-22, 8:21pm
My wife's former employer has dropped the "vaccine" mandates, but won't hire back the ones fired for non compliance.
Well, the RN’s can go to the employer down the road, or if they are free to travel can be ome a traveling nurse. Good money in that.
Thank you bae. Good luck to you also.
It was a tough decision for us, after all it cost us 70% of our income by not taking the experimental gene therapy concoction, many refer to as a vaccine.
Money is much tighter for us these days, but I do like having a stay at home wife, as does she.
As someone who believes in science and medicine I have to say that I’m glad that you aren’t involved in providing care to people anymore.
As someone who believes in science and medicine I have to say that I’m glad that you aren’t involved in providing care to people anymore.
You are the one who's ignorant. Someone who sits in a lab screening pap smears is not even around patients, never mind advising them on vaccines. And you're not only ignorant, you're rude, supercilious, and snarky. Trump got elected because of the coastal elitism of people like you and New Yorker Hillary Clinton who called them deplorables.
You are the one who's ignorant. Someone who sits in a lab screening pap smears is not even around patients, never mind advising them on vaccines. And you're not only ignorant, you're rude, supercilious, and snarky. Trump got elected because of the coastal elitism of people like you and New Yorker Hillary Clinton who called them deplorables.
Trump didn’t get elected because of coastal elitism. He got elected because he claimed to hate the same people his voters did.
And once again for the losers in the back of the balcony Hillary didn’t call them deplorables in general. She named four specific types of deplorable. And after watching that ugly shitbag’s supporters for the last 7 years all I’ve got to say about it is that she was right. Kkkanye is one of the more ugly examples of his deplorables.
Trump didn’t get elected because of coastal elitism. He got elected because he claimed to hate the same people his voters did.
And once again for the losers in the back of the balcony Hillary didn’t call them deplorables in general. She named four specific types of deplorable. And after watching that ugly shitbag’s supporters for the last 7 years all I’ve got to say about it is that she was right. Kkkanye is one of the more ugly examples of his deplorables.
Yes, he did get elected because of backlash against woke elitism. You should read the book, "What's the Matter with Kansas?" You might learn something. But you won't because you think you already know it all.
Yes, he did get elected because of backlash against woke elitism. You should read the book, "What's the Matter with Kansas?" You might learn something. But you won't because you think you already know it all.
Why? You obviously didn’t.
Everybody talks about “What’s the Matter with Kansas”, where Thomas Frank tried to explain how the evil Republicans bamboozled the heartland into viewing the Democrats as out of touch elitists. He followed up with a book titled “Listen Liberal”, where he took Democrats to task for becoming out of touch elitists.
Everybody talks about “What’s the Matter with Kansas”, where Thomas Frank tried to explain how the evil Republicans bamboozled the heartland into viewing the Democrats as out of touch elitists. He followed up with a book titled “Listen Liberal”, where he took Democrats to task for becoming out of touch elitists.
Both parties need to get their hands slapped these days.
iris lilies
12-4-22, 1:26pm
Both parties need to get their hands slapped these days. And some elements of both parties need to go sit in the corner for a long time out.
And some elements of both parties need to go sit in the corner for a long time out.
Or in a prison cell until their ugly orange body is dead.
As someone who believes in science and medicine I have to say that I’m glad that you aren’t involved in providing care to people anymore.
Why are you glad? Here's a multiple choice question for you and anyone else who would like to respond.
Who would you rather have screen your specimen for cancer?
A. My unvaccinated wife with 23 yrs experience. or
B. A vaccinated tech with 6 months experience who is disgruntled because she's being forced to work OT on Saturday to screen your specimen because her employer is now short staffed because they fired all the unvaxed.
Well, is it going to be A or B?
Why are you glad? Here's a multiple choice question for you and anyone else who would like to respond.
Who would you rather have screen your specimen for cancer?
A. My unvaccinated wife with 23 yrs experience. or
B. A vaccinated tech with 6 months experience who is disgruntled because she's being forced to work OT on Saturday to screen your specimen because her employer is now short staffed because they fired all the unvaxed.
Well, is it going to be A or B?
I live in California. I choose C: nobody got fired because everyone got vaxxed.
https://coronavirus.marinhhs.org/vaccine/data
You are the one who's ignorant. Someone who sits in a lab screening pap smears is not even around patients, never mind advising them on vaccines. And you're not only ignorant, you're rude, supercilious, and snarky.
Thank you Yppej.
You are correct. My wife worked in an office building, no contact with patients.
Well, is it going to be A or B?
That of course is a rhetorical fallacy.
I live in California. I choose C: nobody got fired because everyone got vaxxed.
https://coronavirus.marinhhs.org/vaccine/data
Are you sure it isn't outsourced to India? Lots of hospitals are doing that. And is everyone in India doing this work vaxxed?
I'm not sure why some of us still throw shade at the unvaccinated, the vaccinated can still catch the virus and pass it along to others.
I'm not sure why some of us still throw shade at the unvaccinated, the vaccinated can still catch the virus and pass it along to others.
https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51FqFXlIo9L._SX331_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg
https://www.zerohedge.com/covid-19/pfizer-exec-admits-under-oath-we-never-tested-covid-vaccine-against-transmission
https://www.zerohedge.com/covid-19/pfizer-exec-admits-under-oath-we-never-tested-covid-vaccine-against-transmission
Come now. Engage some of that critical thinking stuff....
Zero Hedge is not exactly a reliable unbiased source. https://mediabiasfactcheck.com/zero-hedge/
iris lilies
12-4-22, 9:13pm
Zero Hedge is not exactly a reliable unbiased source. https://mediabiasfactcheck.com/zero-hedge/
The chief source of tv information for many here, you know, the people who believe science, only rated one level up from zero Hedge.
https://mediabiasfactcheck.com/left/cnn-bias/
I remember when the sciency believer of science, Rachel Maddox, was chiding those who had not got a Covid vaccine about how the vaccine stops transmission so they need to go get a shot because science.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=xij3eJrNhho
I'm not sure why some of us still throw shade at the unvaccinated, the vaccinated can still catch the virus and pass it along to others.
At this point the estimates are that 95% of the US population has been infected with covid. I'm not concerned that some office worker who has no direct patient contact is a risk to patients. I'm concerned that they don't believe in modern medicine. Hiring a medical professional who doesn't believe in the benefit, both personally and communally, of vaccination is to me similar to hiring an athiest to be a priest.
At this point the estimates are that 95% of the US population has been infected with covid. I'm not concerned that some office worker who has no direct patient contact is a risk to patients. I'm concerned that they don't believe in modern medicine. Hiring a medical professional who doesn't believe in the benefit, both personally and communally, of vaccination is to me similar to hiring an athiest to be a priest.
So, your being judgmental, snarky and unpleasant to others is simply a personal preference?
So, your being judgmental, snarky and unpleasant to others is simply a personal preference?
Apparently I didn't explain myself well. Or you're just being obtuse, as you often are when someone presents a viewpoint that doesn't comport with yours.
I, like a majority of Americans, am not personally capable of evaluating the merits of a given treatment a doctor recommends. Sure, I can go on google as well as the best of the youtube virologists that have emerged in the past 3 years, but at the end of the day I have to decide to either trust the medical professionals directly involved in my care, or to trust whatever random sources I have found online. I simply don't have the education, access, or time to go read through all of the scientific studies that were done for any given treatment over the years. Considering that the vast vast majority of medical professionals willingly got vaccinated for covid I have come to the conclusion that covid vaccination is a logical and reasonable medical treatment. Any medical professional who doesn't get this broadly accepted vaccination makes me question their competence more generally.
I'm not a vaccine absolutist. I always ask the question "Is getting this disease likely to kill or cripple me?" when considering one.
All medicines and immunizations have risks--the COVID vax side effects are just emerging. I'm not sorry I got the J & J, because I was in the high risk group. As it turns out, I could probably have skipped it, due to my (ongoing) lack of exposure to the virus. At any rate, I'll never be one to jump at a chance to be a mark for Big Medicine.
In 2003 my son's doctor was keeping us informed about an experimental gene therapy clinical trial in Europe that could potentially help our children. I didn't have any understanding of gene therapy. In my mind it was just medicine. A few months later the doctor informed us the trial had to be halted because 6 of the 21 participants had developed leukemia.
Fast forward 19 years, now 70% of my fellow Americans have been injected with an experimental gene therapy that hasn't even successfully passed animal trials. I feel like I'm living in a bad dream. Has everyone lost their minds.
You have my prayers.
In 2003 my son's doctor was keeping us informed about an experimental gene therapy clinical trial in Europe that could potentially help our children. I didn't have any understanding of gene therapy. In my mind it was just medicine. A few months later the doctor informed us the trial had to be halted because 6 of the 21 participants had developed leukemia.
Fast forward 19 years, now 70% of my fellow Americans have been injected with an experimental gene therapy that hasn't even successfully passed animal trials. I feel like I'm living in a bad dream. Has everyone lost their minds.
You have my prayers.
Thanks for proving the point I was trying to explain to Alan.
All medicines and immunizations have risks--the COVID vax side effects are just emerging.
Other than rare disorders, I'm unaware of new side effects that are just emerging? At least on the order of peer reviewed. Am I missing something and should I be worried, as I'm now up to four mRNA shots?
frugal-one
12-5-22, 8:38am
Zero Hedge is not exactly a reliable unbiased source. https://mediabiasfactcheck.com/zero-hedge/
QAnon anyone?
It basically comes down to risk assessment and who gets to do the assessing, doesn’t it? Medical risks, political risks and economic risks all in a giant global tangle. Had Operation Warp Speed proceeded more slowly for more thorough testing, would we have lost more people than we did? What will the ultimate cost be of closing schools for a year or more? To what degree should a public or private organization be able to impose it’s standards of risk on individuals working or doing business there? To what degree can an individual impose his standard of risk to the people around him?
Someone I know who works in Pharma claimed that mRNA technology can produce a vaccine within 2-3 weeks, and that the real time involved is testing for safety. Anything past that is at least partly a matter of judgment.
Other than rare disorders, I'm unaware of new side effects that are just emerging? At least on the order of peer reviewed. Am I missing something and should I be worried, as I'm now up to four mRNA shots?
Pericarditis and myocarditis, especially in young men: https://www.cdc.gov › coronavirus › 2019-ncov › vaccines › safety › myocarditis.html
"Myocarditis and pericarditis have rarely been reported. When reported, the cases have especially been in adolescents and young adult males within several days after mRNA COVID-19 vaccination (Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna).
More often after the second dose
Usually within a week of vaccination
Most patients with myocarditis or pericarditis who received care responded well to medicine and rest and felt better quickly.
Patients can usually return to their normal daily activities after their symptoms improve.
Those who have been diagnosed with myocarditis should consult with their cardiologist (heart doctor) about return to exercise or sports.
Seek medical care if you or your child have any of the specific or general symptoms of myocarditis or pericarditis especially if it’s within a week after COVID-19 vaccination."
I listened to an interview of Dr. Ginge Brien, an American geriatrician, in which he explains he quit traditional medicine due to extreme protocols and regulations that hamstrung his ability to practice as he wished. Now he has a private concierge service where he makes house calls and does consults.
"As a physician, I'd been a legal drug pusher, and now I'm trying to be a healer."--Dr.Brien
catherine
12-17-22, 7:58pm
I listened to an interview of Dr. Ginge Brien, an American geriatrician, in which he explains he quit traditional medicine due to extreme protocols and regulations that hamstrung his ability to practice as he wished. Now he has a private concierge service where he makes house calls and does consults.
"As a physician, I'd been a legal drug pusher, and now I'm trying to be a healer."--Dr.Brien
As another legal drug dealer, I see both sides. Do for-profit pharmaceutical manufacturers do anything they can to make money, within the constraints of the law and an overriding mission to help people? Yes. But has their extensive R&D and development of therapies from the "bread and butter" to highly innovative helped many people? Yes.
I had an interview with a parent of a child with a rare disease yesterday. It has a genetic component, and babies are born with it, so lifestyle is not a factor. Her son lived for 12 years in pain. He couldn't even sit for more than 5 minutes at the dinner table. His pain was so bad he had to stand up after 5 minutes, and most of the time he wasn't at school, he was lying down on the couch with a blanket. When a novel therapy for this rare disease was approved, the doctor prescribed it for him last August.
I asked her, how did you know your child was improving on this drug? There was a long pause. I suspected she was crying, and she was. She apologized for being emotional, and she said, "I knew he was improving when he could sit at the dinner table with us for 30 minutes and tell us about his day at school."
Are there side effects with this drug? Absolutely, but nothing intolerable if you want to be relieved of debilitating pain and have the tumors on your spine shrink.
As for the vaccine issue, I believe the myocarditis and pericarditis are temporary, as your quote alludes to. Patients have the right to decide for themselves the benefit vs risk of any drug.
The unfortunate patients who suffer with these conditions would have little recourse if Congress hadn't passed the Orphan Drug Act in 1983, offering incentives (dare I say bribes?) to drug companies to do the right thing.
"That law, the Orphan Drug Act, provided financial incentives to attract industry’s interest through a seven-year period of market exclusivity for a drug approved to treat an orphan disease, even if it were not under patent, and tax credits of up to 50 percent for research and development expenses. In addition, FDA was authorized to designate drugs and biologics for orphan status (the first step to getting orphan development incentives) provide grants for clinical testing of orphan products, and offer assistance in how to frame protocols for investigations. A subsequent amendment defined a rare disease as one affecting under 200,000, though a disease with more patients could qualify if the firm could not recover the costs of developing the drug."
https://www.fda.gov/industry/fdas-rare-disease-day/story-behind-orphan-drug-act
catherine
12-17-22, 8:31pm
I suppose that's why there is always tension between the public and the private sector. And frankly, since all the blockbuster bread-and-butter drugs are going off-patent, orphan drugs are now a viable market opportunity. I spoke with payers this month on that very topic and they admit that they are worried about the financial impact on their business of orphan drugs. I don't disagree there is pharmaceutical greed.
Here's another good quote I heard from a pharmacist whose professional associations are lobbying against a particular program that pharmacy benefit managers are taking advantage of because, well, they can. The pharmacist said, "[Our professional organization] convened and we decided that we'd have to try to get Congress involved. And you know how bad it is when you have to rely on Congress to make things happen."
ApatheticNoMore
12-17-22, 9:26pm
I listened to an interview of Dr. Ginge Brien, an American geriatrician, in which he explains he quit traditional medicine due to extreme protocols and regulations that hamstrung his ability to practice as he wished. Now he has a private concierge service where he makes house calls and does consults.
"As a physician, I'd been a legal drug pusher, and now I'm trying to be a healer."--Dr.Brien
he can fancy himself that way if he wants. But a healer to who? Bet he doesn't take insurance or Medicaid/Medicare, bet his out of pocket cash rates are out of reach to even the middle class. So he could just say "I used to be a doctor to everyone, now I'm a doctor to the rich" and be as accurate about it.
I was just reading an article about a radiology clinic back in Austin laying off long-time staff right now - this is a company that has been there for years. A year or so back, the bulk of the organization was acquired by private equity firms for whom only the bottom line matters. Little bits left were sold off to some of the doctors who practice there. Ditto with MIL's assisted living - it was also acquired recently by an equity firm and the service has become deplorable. So much of this going on in the health care world.
ApatheticNoMore
12-17-22, 9:33pm
The myocarditis risk exists but is less than the risk of that from covid. I guess it gets complex if you had already had covid a few times before vaccines came out. But if you hadn't had covid getting the vaccine makes sense. How many young men have the ability to avoid all covid exposure? Good masks are very effective but not sure I'd want to rely on only that alone. We would all like to go back to the world of 2019 where we neither had to get vaccines to protect ourselves and/or covid, but that's not on offer.
catherine
12-17-22, 9:42pm
he can fancy himself that way if he wants. But a healer to who? Bet he doesn't take insurance or Medicaid/Medicare, bet his out of pocket cash rates are out of reach to even the middle class. So he could just say "I used to be a doctor to everyone, now I'm a doctor to the rich" and be as accurate about it.
Good point.
catherine
12-17-22, 9:46pm
I was just reading an article about a radiology clinic back in Austin laying off long-time staff right now - this is a company that has been there for years. A year or so back, the bulk of the organization was acquired by private equity firms for whom only the bottom line matters. Little bits left were sold off to some of the doctors who practice there. Ditto with MIL's assisted living - it was also acquired recently by an equity firm and the service has become deplorable. So much of this going on in the health care world.
Consolidation of healthcare systems has been going on for a decade or so and is not going to stop. Buying physician practices is in the mix as well.
he can fancy himself that way if he wants. But a healer to who? Bet he doesn't take insurance or Medicaid/Medicare, bet his out of pocket cash rates are out of reach to even the middle class. So he could just say "I used to be a doctor to everyone, now I'm a doctor to the rich" and be as accurate about it.
I've priced concierge car, and didn't find it unreasonable. This guy works with an aging clientele; he might be a grifter, but I doubt it. A lot of doctors don't like to have to toe an unreasonable line between insurance companies and Pharma, so I suspect this is a trend.
I've priced concierge car, and didn't find it unreasonable. This guy works with an aging clientele; he might be a grifter, but I doubt it. A lot of doctors don't like to have to toe an unreasonable line between insurance companies and Pharma, so I suspect this is a trend.
My concierge doc's rate for my age range (42-64) patient is $2,800 annually ($234/month). I don't find that unreasonable at all. I then get a significant discount for being a first responder, so I'm paying ~$2250/year.
My doc is one of the finest ones I've worked with, was one of my medical instructors, and when there was a management kerfuffle at our local medical center that was interfering with quality-of-care, left and started her own no-insurance/no-paperwork practice. She can now see a lot more patients, and provide them better whole-patient care.
Calling this "grifting" or only serving "the rich" is a bit silly. I'm spending less now than I was when I was using the state healthcare/insurance/service that is otherwise available to me. And getting better care.
For reference, a couple months ago I dislocated a shoulder and we managed to put it back together in her office with a couple of assistants. My total out-of-pocket costs were some minor sum paid to the local medical center for x-rays to verify it was back, and for a PT doctor to fly over and give me a couple of ultrasounds and show me how to do the PT on it to recover range of motion and strength. The PT doc only charged me for the actual exam, and not his cost to fly here. The cost savings from this single incident likely paid for several years of her services.
iris lilies
12-18-22, 3:25pm
My concierge doc's rate for my age range (42-64) patient is $2,800 annually ($234/month). I don't find that unreasonable at all. I then get a significant discount for being a first responder, so I'm paying ~$2250/year.
My doc is one of the finest ones I've worked with, was one of my medical instructors, and when there was a management kerfuffle at our local medical center that was interfering with quality-of-care, left and started her own no-insurance/no-paperwork practice. She can now see a lot more patients, and provide them better whole-patient care.
Calling this "grifting" or only serving "the rich" is a bit silly. I'm spending less now than I was when I was using the state healthcare/insurance/service that is otherwise available to me. And getting better care.
For reference, a couple months ago I dislocated a shoulder and we managed to put it back together in her office with a couple of assistants. My total out-of-pocket costs were some minor sum paid to the local medical center for x-rays to verify it was back, and for a PT doctor to fly over and give me a couple of ultrasounds and show me how to do the PT on it to recover range of motion and strength. The PT doc only charged me for the actual exam, and not his cost to fly here. The cost savings from this single incident likely paid for several years of her services.
I’m curious to know what you get for that $234 a month. My direct care physician charges me $80 a month and I’m quite a bit older than you, so I am in her oldest category of patients, I think.
When she takes a CBC for instance, does she pay for the lab work? For me, I use insurance for the actual lab work. For the blood draw my direct care fee covers that as well as the accompanying company in exam, visit, etc.
each office, be it concierge or direct care, will cover different things I’m sure. Since mine seems to be a pretty bare-bones direct care, I don’t expect a whole lot from it I just like the convenience of having a doctor so close. There are other doctors in town but I like the idea of direct care.
her charge for children is $15 a month. One of the moms down the street told me that they use this direct care physician as their back up physician because it’s pretty much the cost of deductible on their insurance for visiting their regular physician further out of town.
iris lilies
12-18-22, 3:29pm
Also bae, Do you have some kind of insurance for bigger events? You probably have some sort of ACA insurance even if you don’t use it.
I’m curious to know what you get for that $234 a month. My direct care physician charges me $80 a month and I’m quite a bit older than you, so I am in her oldest category of patients, I think.
It covers office visits, any procedure she can do in her office, any lab work she can do in her office, blood draws for labs sent to the big lab, GP management of my whole health, well-patient care, vaccinations, yada yada.
I still have to maintain health insurance, which covers labwork elsewhere, procedures and specialists elsewhere, and that sort of thing. I pay $1.89/month for the WA State "silver" level plan through our state exchange, because I have basically no "real" income.
Our local medical center is currently operated by an off-island larger medical provider, and was going through a troublesome transitional period trying to get a crew of doctors/nurses/PAs who could practice there. Scheduling was uncertain, and having the same doc from visit-to-visit was uncertain. I hear it is getting better, but it was too zany for me to deal with, and the past incarnations of that clinic have been notably bad. Getting appointments there under the new operator is a bit of a pain, and after-hours care sucks. (My doc will make after-hours housecalls if need be).
The other option people here use is to go off-island, but that eats an entire day of your time, $50 in ferry fees, and the ferry system has been very unreliable and wonky since the pandemic. Between gas, ferry fees, food I usually budget at least $100 simply to pop over to the mainland.
My doc also told me just the other day she'd be happy to see my 26-year-old daughter for anything that pops up while she is visiting from the UK, which is good as my daughter isn't covered here in the US.
iris lilies
12-18-22, 4:10pm
Your service sounds similar to mine. However my direct care physician employs a nurse practitioner and that’s who I saw last time I was there for an annual visit. Also I had allergy test performed by a tech. So for less money I’m seeing less educated/experienced personnel.
I could make an appointment to see specifically the physicisn but it’s just not that important to me who I see.
The cost difference is reality that things cost more on your island, especially real estate. If my physician is paying $1000 a month for her office space that would be the higher end of what I estimate she pays
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