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You're interpretation is complete partisan bull****. No one ever said EHRs are making physicians quit. A lot of docs, including me, are using EHR with great success and the article explicitly mentions that. The issue here is the Congress/presidential mandates that are forcing one-size-fits-all EHR "meaningful use" down every docs' throat. Just because something works well for you doesn't mean it will for everyone. And by the way, there are plenty of 60+ year olds who are excellent clinicians and should not be driven out of medicine because they're not on Facebook.It's compete partisan bull****. Please, this is equivalent to the 70 year old cardiologist who doesn't bother using ACE inhibitors in CHF because they haven't read a journal article in 30 years. EHRs make sense and have made my life a lot better. Having the ability to see notes from other providers and their thoughts on a patient's condition is very helpful in complex cases. Have you ever seen records from PCPs who continue with paper records? Aside from the horrible handwriting, trying to figure out their medical hx from such poor notes is impossible and frankly dangerous. EHRs aren't making physicians quit, unless you are taking about the 60+ year olds who has no basic knowledge of computers (frankly if you aren't smart enough to work a basic computer you shouldn't be in medicine).
No one ever said EHRs are making physicians quit.
which is about as close to saying the EHRs are making physicians quit without specifcally stating it....As one of them wrote, “My colleagues who have already left practice all say they still love patient care, being a doctor. They just couldn’t stand everything else.” By which he meant “a never-ending attack on the profession from government, insurance companies, and lawyers . . . progressively intrusive and usually unproductive rules and regulations,” topped by an electronic health records (EHR) mandate that produces nothing more than “billing and legal documents” — and degraded medicine.
I hear this everywhere. Virtually every doctor and doctors’ group I speak to cites the same litany, with particular bitterness about the EHR mandate. As another classmate wrote, “The introduction of the electronic medical record into our office has created so much more need for documentation that I can only see about three-quarters of the patients I could before, and has prompted me to seriously consider leaving for the first time.”
which is about as close to saying the EHRs are making physicians quit without specifcally stating it....
I object! The operative word in the above quote is MANDATE. EHR is its modifier. It's always the mandate that's the issue."...progressively intrusive and usually unproductive rules and regulations,” topped by an electronic health records (EHR) mandate that produces...
There is nothing wrong with the concept of a EHR--only how it gets used. Increasingly, it's being used to harm patients and intrude on the physician-patient relationship.
Like the "meaningful use" requirements? So the government is harming patients by making me ask them to stop smoking? Or maybe reminding a patient that the highest score in the "BMI game" doesn't mean you get a prize at the end (other than diabetes, DJD, sleep apnea or HTN)? Or having me document meds at every visit? Do you know how many times that simple meaningful use requirement has saved my @ss because it reminded the patient of that new blood thinner their cardiologist just put them on?
The problem really lies with the physician who doesn't keep up with what is actually best for his/her practice and their patients. I once had an old crusty family med doc tell me he didn't believe that metabolic syndrome was a medical condition and that it led to any harm and he also felt OSA was just an excuse to sell people in CPAP machines. WTF? These are the types who are complaining (about EHRs amongst other things) and making the government demand more out of us.
Many physicians find the requirement to deliver public service announcements distracting from actual patient care.Like the "meaningful use" requirements? So the government is harming patients by making me ask them to stop smoking? Or maybe reminding a patient that the highest score in the "BMI game" doesn't mean you get a prize at the end (other than diabetes, DJD, sleep apnea or HTN)?
Like the "meaningful use" requirements? So the government is harming patients by making me ask them to stop smoking? Or maybe reminding a patient that the highest score in the "BMI game" doesn't mean you get a prize at the end (other than diabetes, DJD, sleep apnea or HTN)? Or having me document meds at every visit? Do you know how many times that simple meaningful use requirement has saved my @ss because it reminded the patient of that new blood thinner their cardiologist just put them on?
The problem really lies with the physician who doesn't keep up with what is actually best for his/her practice and their patients. I once had an old crusty family med doc tell me he didn't believe that metabolic syndrome was a medical condition and that it led to any harm and he also felt OSA was just an excuse to sell people in CPAP machines. WTF? These are the types who are complaining (about EHRs amongst other things) and making the government demand more out of us.
.....The problem really lies with the physician who doesn't keep up with what is actually best for his/her practice and their patients.......These are the types who are complaining (about EHRs amongst other things) and making the government demand more out of us.
need just 1.Is there really a rampart number of physician's that are 'providing' sub-standard and dangerous care to merit ALL of the onerous regulatory burdens that are being placed on our practices?
who is the most popular physician at the moment?
Is there really a rampart number of physician's that are 'providing' sub-standard and dangerous care to merit ALL of the onerous regulatory burdens that are being placed on our practices?
So those docs who used to perform substandard and dangerous care are now reformed and providing safe and standard of care, thanks to the check boxes and other "meaningful use" requirements? And your metric for success is, let me guess, what boxes are checked?need just 1.
We can quit Medicare with medicaid secondaries, medicaid, crappy bcbs ACA plans, uhc commercial and ACA plans, etc... The more you turn away the more the insurance pool around you will change... That's quiting in my bookThe truth is doctors can't quit. The cost of our training and debt is too high. We are stuck.
The truth is doctors can't quit. The cost of our training and debt is too high. We are stuck.
I like this post on so many levels...That's not accurate. Doctors can just say "no." Organize. They can enforce legal boundaries between employment groups and service vendors (hospitals). Most importantly, they can contribute to PAC's that support MD/DO interests. The real problem is that most doctors are p*ssies, not politically savvy, and intimidated by population-based/socialist policymakers.
That's not accurate. Doctors can just say "no." Organize. They can enforce legal boundaries between employment groups and service vendors (hospitals). Most importantly, they can contribute to PAC's that support MD/DO interests. The real problem is that most doctors are p*ssies, not politically savvy, and intimidated by population-based/socialist policymakers.
"Organize" you mean unionize?
"Organize" you mean unionize?
Agree completely. I've already stopped seeing 90% of what you listed. Made my life much better, and I know if I work on someone I'll actually get paid. Plus many of my old patient have returned to see me, once they got real insurance.We can quit Medicare with medicaid secondaries, medicaid, crappy bcbs ACA plans, uhc commercial and ACA plans, etc... The more you turn away the more the insurance pool around you will change... That's quiting in my book
Agree completely. I've already stopped seeing 90% of what you listed. Made my life much better, and I know if I work on someone I'll actually get paid. Plus many of my old patient have returned to see me, once they got real insurance.
Those physicians assigning their TIN to hospital administrators are selling out the field of medicine... Trust me these ACO have great contracts ( ie $500 for NS Iv bags...) and are milking the system , and those physicians just do not see that revenue...There are no excuses, either physicians control their future or assign it to the government...or worse get collective bargaining against your hospital employer akin to the auto industry...greatThe problem is that many are not in control of their payors---they've been removed from the money making decisions...they can't affect their own work conditions---those people, they need collective bargaining.
Time magazine did an expose on greedy hospital administrators about two years ago... Nobody cared because it's the greedy specialist... Poor pcps need more medicaid reimbursement, so vote for the ACA... Don't remind me of the healthcare nightmAre act...the media spin was surrealI've said it before, I think the best way to organize would be to form a union that limits its objective to bureaucratic/middle man interference with money off the table. If our objective was not financial and restricted to onerous Medicare and insurance guidelines, including preauth protocols, meaningful use, PQRS, etc., we could successfully unionize. As soon as money is on the table, the public says, "greedy doctor" and it falls apart.
I don't see why we can't unionize and include financial matters. One of the purposes of a union is to ensue fair wages. If the public thinks we are greedy we strike or stage a slow-down and they try to live without medical care or wait 6 months for an appointment.I've said it before, I think the best way to organize would be to form a union that limits its objective to bureaucratic/middle man interference with money off the table. If our objective was not financial and restricted to onerous Medicare and insurance guidelines, including preauth protocols, meaningful use, PQRS, etc., we could successfully unionize. As soon as money is on the table, the public says, "greedy doctor" and it falls apart.
Based on the current climate I would favor unionization as well... The problem is that unions become like Workers United... With union bosses, political allegiances and false economic promises...I don't see why we can't unionize and include financial matters. One of the purposes of a union is to ensue fair wages. If the public thinks we are greedy we strike or stage a slow-down and they try to live without medical care or wait 6 months for an appointment.
Based on the current climate I would favor unionization as well... The problem is that unions become like Workers United... With union bosses, political allegiances and false economic promises...
Collective bargaining is against the law for us. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2758953/I don't see why we can't unionize and include financial matters. One of the purposes of a union is to ensue fair wages. If the public thinks we are greedy we strike or stage a slow-down and they try to live without medical care or wait 6 months for an appointment.
Collective bargaining is against the law for us. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2758953/
I think the only way we could pull it off is if we had a lot of public support. The only way to get that is to take money off the table. Not saying money should always be off the table. But breaking through this wall in a meaningful and lasting way will be a major feat. I would just take it one step at a time and first get this monkey of micromanagement off our backs. If CMS only has enough money to pay us xyz for a LESI, that's a position the public will sympathize with. But CMS shouldn't be able to add 2 hours of administrative work to the procedure. For me it's a totally separate issue and I would be happy slaying just one of those dragons.
There already is a physician Union for employed doctors.I've said it before, I think the best way to organize would be to form a union that limits its objective to bureaucratic/middle man interference with money off the table. If our objective was not financial and restricted to onerous Medicare and insurance guidelines, including preauth protocols, meaningful use, PQRS, etc., we could successfully unionize. As soon as money is on the table, the public says, "greedy doctor" and it falls apart.
Correct. 100% legal for employee physicians, not legal for private practice physicians.While collective bargaining is not allowed for physicians that are in independent practices the same may not be true for employed physicians. Interns and residents have been unionized for decades. Employed physicians are not "management". They no longer have the power to control the system. Unionizing to bargain for salary and benefit guarantees is different than a disparate group of independent physicians getting together and price fixing rates. IMHO the article cited is not on point for the majority of physicians in the US today. If doctors unionized there is the possibility of taking back medicine. The usual schism between primary care and specialists will be exploited by the powers that be to thwart this along with doctors' general reluctance to go out of their way to challenge authority and try to change the system.
I'm already in a union with other employees. I can fight for higher wages from my employer or complain that I don't get time off or that my work hours are not fair. I can complain that my co-worker, Suzy, has a better office than me. Is that what you guys are talking about? Because these are not the structural problems facing the medical profession. These are problems with your workplace. You can certainly form a union with other slaves and obtain more leverage to negotiate with your master. Probably better than nothing.While collective bargaining is not allowed for physicians that are in independent practices the same may not be true for employed physicians. Interns and residents have been unionized for decades. Employed physicians are not "management". They no longer have the power to control the system. Unionizing to bargain for salary and benefit guarantees is different than a disparate group of independent physicians getting together and price fixing rates. IMHO the article cited is not on point for the majority of physicians in the US today. If doctors unionized there is the possibility of taking back medicine. The usual schism between primary care and specialists will be exploited by the powers that be to thwart this along with doctors' general reluctance to go out of their way to challenge authority and try to change the system.
I'm already in a union with other employees. I can fight for higher wages from my employer or complain that I don't get time off or that my work hours are not fair. I can complain that my co-worker, Suzy, has a better office than me. Is that what you guys are talking about? Because these are not the structural problems facing the medical profession. These are problems with your workplace. You can certainly form a union with other slaves and obtain more leverage to negotiate with your master. Probably better than nothing.
I was hoping to be part of a group of independent physicians willing to stand up to DHHS and other intrusive powers who are fundamentally changing the medical profession. Many of the issues employed docs are dealing with are side effects of the larger problems. IMO, DHHS has to be confronted.
There are obviously MANY things we can't agree on. There are training disparities, cultures, ethical standpoints, personal goals, etc that will forever pit physician against physician. But for common ground, I was hoping for a very strong majority that opposes interference, coercion, co-opting, and otherwise defiling the sacred relationship between doctor and patient by any and all external parties - especially government and it's proxies: insurance industry, hospitals, EHR companies, other special interests.if we as a profession cant even agree that obviously unnecessary procedures - such as fusions - should have limitations, how in the world do you expect a physician cohort to push back against CMS and independent insurers?
I wish I could. I think it's possible and may exist somewhere. But it also may require a revolutionary kind of charter. With term limits and lots of other restrictions. You could even have the leadership randomly selected from the general membership every few years.and name me a profession that unionized that did not run into issues with a few individuals seizing powers for themselves.