Are seniors worried about their primary doctor? They should be.

A survey by the Physicians Foundation revealed some startling information.  Our doctors are not happy. Not only that they are miserable.

Of the more than 150,000 doctors that were served, an amazing 49% of them are planning to reduce the number of patients they are seeing in the next 3 years. This problem is magnified when you consider that there are very few MD’s to replace them.  In fact 78% of the MD’s surveyed felt there is already an existing shortage in primary care doctors.

Sadly, 60% of them would not recommend that anyone follow their footsteps and become and MD.  What has happened?  The once prestigious position of Doctor has fallen dramatically.

Some key details to the decline in satisfaction, and desire to change working conditions, and possibly careers all together are significant.

The drastic time and expense in doing paperwork has cut back on time to spend with patients.  That has a lot to do with reimbursement.  On top of the increase in regulation and requirements for more documentation, reimbursement has declined.   How can you require more information, and create more hoops to achieve the reimbursement, and then you also cut back what you will actually pay.  This works great in insurance, were people file a claim, and you give them 10 forms and deny them first anyway. But, we are numbing and disenfranchising our doctors.  These people need to me enthusiastic, motivated.  They are in charge of our health.  Bureaucracy is killing medicine.

For the Seniors and their loved ones out there. It is critical that you realize that our government provides more than weapons, and bail outs.  While we are distracted and fraught with fear over an impending attack and destruction of the United States ( this is meant to be a Joke!) our government has been, conveniently, cutting back on reimbursements for medical care.   Do our taxes only pay for roads, regulations, and weapons?

The argument is that the costs keep going up.  Lets consider the example that in 1980 healthcare costs were 8.8% of GDP, and in 2003 they are 15.2%.  Wow you say.

But have you thought of these few details.

In 1980 very few if any total joint procedures were being done at all.  Now they are common place.  People in their late 40’s are able to receive them if they suffer from DJD.                                               The population has aged dramatically.

The population is healthier and living longer, thus using the system more.

MRI’s and nuclear imaging and therapies did not exist.

I could go on for a long time, but this is not the point of the article.  In a nutshell,  their are more people, they are older, more active, and their expectations for their health and lifestyle have changed drastically.

The most disheartening fact is that physicians morale has dropped to a very low point. Just when the Baby boomers are just retiring.  On top of low morale,  75%+ of physicians feel they are overworked and that the profession is no longer rewarding.

So the next time you see your MD,  no matter how long you had to wait, no matter if it was the doctor you scheduled to see,  thank them for their service.

Thank them for committing their lives to help all of us.