A few questions about future of physicians in America

[Papaown]

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Hello everyone, I am new to the forums and have a few questions. I'm sure these have been asked numerous times, so I will apologize in advance since I cannot find anything specific to my inquiry.

With the upcoming healthcare act "Obamacare," how will that affect me once I am done with my residency and open my own family practice? I'm sure that the insurance payment will be much lower? Maybe, with the government take over, billing insurance will run more smoothly? (Trying to be optimistic here haha).

I will be applying for medical school in the near future, but many people have been persuading me to seek a different career path because of the upcoming Obamacare changes. Many people keep telling me that I won't make near as much money as in the past. Money isn't my only motivation for going into the field, but it still is a big deal.

I am completely ignorant on the subject, so once again I will apologize. Can anyone explain to me if my future is grim if I were to open up my own family practice later down the line?

Thanks ~Josh

 

[FrkyBgStok]

If I could predict the future with the accuracy you request, I would be stupid rich.

 

[Didierdrogba]

You shouldn't apply to medical school if all you worry about is getting rich. Obamacare might decrease doctors' pay somewhat, but you will still be making a decent amount compared to people in other professions, most likely you're not gonna starve to death as a doctor because of Obamacare.

Medical training is tough, and you better go into this profession because you enjoy medicine, not because of the $$ (or lack of) involved. Don't go into med school with the wrong mindset, you will be miserable

 

[NontradCA]

Money should be a concern, especially when looking at over 200k in debt. That being said, physicians will be upper middle class and live that lifestyle for decades despite of reforms to come. I wouldn't count on ballin out though.

 

[Anicetus]

Just vote for the next candidate that opposes Obamacare this time.

 

[DrEnderW]

Just vote for the next candidate that opposes Obamacare this time.

 

[scarecrow90]

You shouldn't apply to medical school if all you worry about is getting rich. Obamacare might decrease doctors' pay somewhat, but you will still be making a decent amount compared to people in other professions, most likely you're not gonna starve to death as a doctor because of Obamacare.

Medical training is tough, and you better go into this profession because you enjoy medicine, not because of the $$ (or lack of) involved. Don't go into med school with the wrong mindset, you will be miserable

👍

This.

 

[Goro]

Worry about getting into medical school first. Everything I've heard is that if anything, we're going to need MORE physicians, because more people will have access to proper medical care, and won't have to rely on ER's or doing without.

Hello everyone, I am new to the forums and have a few questions. I'm sure these have been asked numerous times, so I will apologize in advance since I cannot find anything specific to my inquiry.

With the upcoming healthcare act "Obamacare," how will that affect me once I am done with my residency and open my own family practice? I'm sure that the insurance payment will be much lower? Maybe, with the government take over, billing insurance will run more smoothly? (Trying to be optimistic here haha).

I will be applying for medical school in the near future, but many people have been persuading me to seek a different career path because of the upcoming Obamacare changes. Many people keep telling me that I won't make near as much money as in the past. Money isn't my only motivation for going into the field, but it still is a big deal.

I am completely ignorant on the subject, so once again I will apologize. Can anyone explain to me if my future is grim if I were to open up my own family practice later down the line?

Thanks ~Josh

 

[hallowmann]

Hello everyone, I am new to the forums and have a few questions. I'm sure these have been asked numerous times, so I will apologize in advance since I cannot find anything specific to my inquiry.

With the upcoming healthcare act "Obamacare," how will that affect me once I am done with my residency and open my own family practice? I'm sure that the insurance payment will be much lower? Maybe, with the government take over, billing insurance will run more smoothly? (Trying to be optimistic here haha).

I will be applying for medical school in the near future, but many people have been persuading me to seek a different career path because of the upcoming Obamacare changes. Many people keep telling me that I won't make near as much money as in the past. Money isn't my only motivation for going into the field, but it still is a big deal.

I am completely ignorant on the subject, so once again I will apologize. Can anyone explain to me if my future is grim if I were to open up my own family practice later down the line?

Thanks ~Josh

Get into med school first, because you actually want to do it, not because you want to be Richie McRicherson (oh yeah, I went old school).

Those people that tell you that don't know anything about the future or the ACA. As a FM doc, you'll probably be making a more than FM docs make now. Specialists are gonna lose money, but docs will still be making more than $150k a year, which is what, like 3 times the national average? Docs will be fine.

So far reimbursements are planned to go down for specialists and up for primary care (which should have happened a while ago). Even if overall the reimbursements for each thing drop, there will be a TON more patients going to their PCPs, resulting in a total of more money to be had by PCPs.

All that being said, I have no idea about the future of private practices. They've been on the decline for over a decade now, and they are losing money to the expansion of big hospital systems that have contracts with specific insurance companies. Who knows what the future holds for them? You could always have a practice affiliated with a hospital, so you get in house referrals for days when you are there.

 

[Didierdrogba]

Just vote for the next candidate that opposes Obamacare this time.

Obamacare actually makes more sense in terms of public health, just sayin...

 

[IslandStyle808]

Hello everyone, I am new to the forums and have a few questions. I'm sure these have been asked numerous times, so I will apologize in advance since I cannot find anything specific to my inquiry.

With the upcoming healthcare act "Obamacare," how will that affect me once I am done with my residency and open my own family practice? I'm sure that the insurance payment will be much lower? Maybe, with the government take over, billing insurance will run more smoothly? (Trying to be optimistic here haha).

I will be applying for medical school in the near future, but many people have been persuading me to seek a different career path because of the upcoming Obamacare changes. Many people keep telling me that I won't make near as much money as in the past. Money isn't my only motivation for going into the field, but it still is a big deal.

I am completely ignorant on the subject, so once again I will apologize. Can anyone explain to me if my future is grim if I were to open up my own family practice later down the line?

Thanks ~Josh

In comparison to other fields not many have a great amount of job security and growth as medicine. The obamacare changes are just a drop in the bucket when you look at other occupations which are not offering a lot of jobs at the moment and are laying off people left and right.

You can most likely have a practice but you will not be earning as much as the doctors of the past though.

 

[bcurtis]

From what it seems like, we as a nation are starting to follow Europe's form of healthcare, which is vastly preventive care over intervening care. I actually read an article one time that showed the difference between a family doctors salary over a vascular surgeon and the numbers to me were shocking to say the least. They were close to the same, with about a 10k difference between the two. Now I am not bashing any specialty and not saying one is better over the other, but that is a little scarey don't you think?

With Obamacare, you can expect to see a huge influx of newly insured people and the work load of family practitioners will increase highly. This is both good and bad for the providers. It really all depends on how you want to look at it. You will have plenty of nurse practitioners and physician's assistants to help you out when the paper work starts pilling up. The PA and NP market is getting flooded right now, which could highly benefit anyone wanting to do a primary care specialty, IE ER, Family, and some Internal.

Hello everyone, I am new to the forums and have a few questions. I'm sure these have been asked numerous times, so I will apologize in advance since I cannot find anything specific to my inquiry.

With the upcoming healthcare act "Obamacare," how will that affect me once I am done with my residency and open my own family practice? I'm sure that the insurance payment will be much lower? Maybe, with the government take over, billing insurance will run more smoothly? (Trying to be optimistic here haha).

I will be applying for medical school in the near future, but many people have been persuading me to seek a different career path because of the upcoming Obamacare changes. Many people keep telling me that I won't make near as much money as in the past. Money isn't my only motivation for going into the field, but it still is a big deal.

I am completely ignorant on the subject, so once again I will apologize. Can anyone explain to me if my future is grim if I were to open up my own family practice later down the line?

Thanks ~Josh

 

[ZezKaiEll]

In comparison to other fields not many have a great amount of job security and growth as medicine. The obamacare changes are just a drop in the bucket when you look at other occupations which are not offering a lot of jobs at the moment and are laying off people left and right.

You can most likely have a practice but you will not be earning as much as the doctors of the past though.

This is very true. I think sometimes people forget exactly how bad things are for so many other professions while being bubbled in medicine.

 

[goldenroc]

No one really knows exactly how Obamacare will pan out. Many parts of the law are still up for interpretation and implementation. As obamacare is being put in place, it will adjust to problems that arise. It's too early to dismiss it all together, and also too early to say that it will work. People who are sure it will fail or succeed don't understand how much work still needs to be done. So, it is a gamble as to how this whole thing will play out for physicians.

Many older docs just don't have the energy to deal with the changes that will come with Obamacare, they've been practicing medicine for longer than obama's been a politician, and have been practicing they way they were taught for many many years. Our generation doesn't have the luxury of knowing for certain how medicine will be practiced and whether or not we will get the same social status as previous generations. We have to adapt to the new changes like many other industries, and learn to play the political game as to maintain our profession's autonomy and integrity. All in all, echoing what other posters have said, go into it because you like it and can't see yourself doing anything else.

If you love what you do, you will be good at it, if you are good at what you do, you will get paid well to do it.

 

[ChaseJ]

From what it seems like, we as a nation are starting to follow Europe's form of healthcare, which is vastly preventive care over intervening care. I actually read an article one time that showed the difference between a family doctors salary over a vascular surgeon and the numbers to me were shocking to say the least. They were close to the same, with about a 10k difference between the two. Now I am not bashing any specialty and not saying one is better over the other, but that is a little scarey don't you think?

With Obamacare, you can expect to see a huge influx of newly insured people and the work load of family practitioners will increase highly. This is both good and bad for the providers. It really all depends on how you want to look at it. You will have plenty of nurse practitioners and physician's assistants to help you out when the paper work starts pilling up. The PA and NP market is getting flooded right now, which could highly benefit anyone wanting to do a primary care specialty, IE ER, Family, and some Internal.

The way you put it, it would seem that ACA basically will lead to more work and less pay for the future physicians...doesn't that seem ironic? I mean seriously...sounds just like the changes they made with restricting residency to 80 hours/week, yet demand the same amount of work within that time...ugh... can't wait!

 

[ChaseJ]

No one really knows exactly how Obamacare will pan out. Many parts of the law are still up for interpretation and implementation. As obamacare is being put in place, it will adjust to problems that arise.

That was something that really stood out to me when I was reading through a few titles in the act. This is something completely new to America, and will likely result in many issues, but the board/counsel are in charge of evaluating the changes made and will propose changes that must be made in order to improve our healthcare. I think it will be interesting to see the changes made, but I just know it'll be a lot of changes for the upcoming generations of doctors...constant changes. Let's just hope for the best!🙂

 

[Anicetus]

.

 

[Didierdrogba]

Are you a democrat?

No. well actually obamacare in its current form won't work too well i guess, but neither will the proposals by the republicans work. I truly believe that we need something universal AND single payer. But i suppose this idea is never gonna flow in the US

 

[Back 5]

No. well actually obamacare in its current form won't work too well i guess, but neither will the proposals by the republicans work. I truly believe that we need something universal AND single payer. But i suppose this idea is never gonna flow in the US

I think we will get to universal coverage and a single payer system eventually.

The 'Roarin 80's' are over. We (doctors) will never see those levels of income versus hours worked again (within reason) but a lot of docs still remember those days and will be resistant to any changes which deviate from that time.

 

[Jonass00]

Have you ever been to a VA hospital? That's what it will be like.

 

[survivordo]

Have you ever been to a VA hospital? That's what it will be like.

So all of our hospitals with have "Smoke Shacks" where the Patients/Vets can roll down to with their O2 cylinders and light up a cancer stick?

Survivor DO

 

[bcurtis]

The way you put it, it would seem that ACA basically will lead to more work and less pay for the future physicians...doesn't that seem ironic? I mean seriously...sounds just like the changes they made with restricting residency to 80 hours/week, yet demand the same amount of work within that time...ugh... can't wait!

Essentially that is what is going to happen; I think... but that is just a personal belief as well. What Goro said above really is what it boils down to though: there is and probably will always be a doctor shortage, especially since we're moving towards national insurance. Will it be more work: yes, will the pay drop from insurance reimbursements: probably, will you love your job after fighting all those years to make it: absolutely.

Just remember that the NP and PA profession is growing rapidly so there is some help coming.

 

[gmcguitar4]

The way you put it, it would seem that ACA basically will lead to more work and less pay for the future physicians...doesn't that seem ironic? I mean seriously...sounds just like the changes they made with restricting residency to 80 hours/week, yet demand the same amount of work within that time...ugh... can't wait!

What's even worse is that we will work more, get paid less, and, unlike our European counterparts, will have massive student loans to repay. I can't imagine what tuition will be like in 5-10 years... I mean, many doctors already sacrifice a ton in their life to provide the best care to others. Compensation has always been a motivating factor for people to pursue the career. So what happens when you take away that aspect? Nothing good.

 

[Didierdrogba]

Have you ever been to a VA hospital? That's what it will be like.

Never been to a VA hospital, but I have lived in 2 different countries with universal healthcare. As a patient, i must say i love it. and data are able to back up the fact that universal healthcare can lead to better health outcomes as a whole.

 

[sylvanthus]

Essentially that is what is going to happen; I think... but that is just a personal belief as well. What Goro said above really is what it boils down to though: there is and probably will always be a doctor shortage, especially since we're moving towards national insurance. Will it be more work: yes, will the pay drop from insurance reimbursements: probably, will you love your job after fighting all those years to make it: absolutely.

Just remember that the NP and PA profession is growing rapidly so there is some help coming.

I can almost guarantee that this help will bite us on the ass. I foresee DNPs becoming the third route to becoming a fully licensed physician. Sadly i fear it is too late to stop it. So when 200 DNP programs are churning out nurse physicians we will have more than enough help.

 

[GUH]

Never been to a VA hospital, but I have lived in 2 different countries with universal healthcare. As a patient, i must say i love it. and data are able to back up the fact that universal healthcare can lead to better health outcomes as a whole.

For a good chunk of the country, American "universal health care coverage" system would look much more like Mexico's than like the UK's or Germany's.

I can almost guarantee that this help will bite us on the ass. I foresee DNPs becoming the third route to becoming a fully licensed physician. Sadly i fear it is too late to stop it. So when 200 DNP programs are churning out nurse physicians we will have more than enough help.

Which is why the title of "physician" must be defended vigorously. Let them become "doctors".

 

[Didierdrogba]

For a good chunk of the country, American "universal health care coverage" system would look much more like Mexico's than like the UK's or Germany's.

which is why I said it's not gonna work in the US under the current plans, obamacare or republican

 

[sylvanthus]

For a good chunk of the country, American "universal health care coverage" system would look much more like Mexico's than like the UK's or Germany's.


Which is why the title of "physician" must be defended vigorously. Let them become "doctors".

Too late. Chiropractors are already using the terms "chiropractic physician" and naturopaths are using "naturopathic physician." So the term is not protected whatsoever and banning these groups from using it will be impossible. Wait for the soon to be used "nursing physician"

 

[sylvanthus]

I think we need a new title and all should start wearing cloaks instead of white coats and see how long it takes nursin managers and such to start wearing it as well.

 

[NYEMMED]

I think we need a new title and all should start wearing cloaks instead of white coats and see how long it takes nursin managers and such to start wearing it as well.

👍 HAHAHA!!

Seriously though, can you even walk through a hospital without seeing everyone wearing a long white coat? I think only medical students dont...

 

[scarecrow90]

I think we need a new title and all should start wearing cloaks instead of white coats and see how long it takes nursin managers and such to start wearing it as well.

:O

 

[Anicetus]

.

 

[bcurtis]

I agree 100% here, but also someone pointed out below the title physician and "doctor" makes a huge clinical difference. The DNP model and curriculum is more of a clinical PhD anyways, with half the clinical hours of a PA, which is scary. The guys on the PA forums hate this as well so we are not alone on this matter.

I can almost guarantee that this help will bite us on the ass. I foresee DNPs becoming the third route to becoming a fully licensed physician. Sadly i fear it is too late to stop it. So when 200 DNP programs are churning out nurse physicians we will have more than enough help.

 

[GUH]

Too late. Chiropractors are already using the terms "chiropractic physician" and naturopaths are using "naturopathic physician." So the term is not protected whatsoever and banning these groups from using it will be impossible. Wait for the soon to be used "nursing physician"

That would worry me except for the fact that DC's and ND's aren't working together to try to equate themselves with MD's. They fill a fairly limited niche, unlike the DNP's who are trying to assert that they can do anything under the sun.

 

[bcurtis]

I wish this quote had a "like" button

That would worry me except for the fact that DC's and ND's aren't working together to try to equate themselves with MD's. They fill a fairly limited niche, unlike the DNP's who are trying to assert that they can do anything under the sun.

 

[nikoness]

90% of people pursue medicine because:

1 - They want to get rich
2 - Their pressured to do so by their family/culture
3 - They want the social status


Medicine is definately changing in this country. Let's break it down in each category:

1 - Obamacare is definately going to drive down physician salary. That combined with increasing insurance and your debt, well, forget about your dreams of owning 2 sports cars and a giant home. In fact, many docs have had to close due to their financial situations. If you want to get rich, invent something or go another route.


2 - Your parents I'm sure want to brag about you, and I'm sure in your culture puts doctors on a pedestal, but at the end of the day you have to do what you want to do. Drowning in debt, in a specialty you didn't want, dealing with A-holes and insurance companies that try to screw you out of your pay....all because you wanted to impress mom and dad and the family? Not worth it.


3 - It was different in the past. But in today's world, the only social status you'll get as a doctor is in the hospital. And most of it won't be genuine. Outside of that environment you're just another person. No one cares. If you truly want to impress and wow people, go into reality TV or become an athlete. That's how you can get social status anywhere and everywhere.

 

[ZezKaiEll]

90% of people pursue medicine because:

1 - They want to get rich
2 - Their pressured to do so by their family/culture
3 - They want the social status

90% seems a real stretch. If the number was really that high I feel like there would be far more job dissatisfaction than what I've been led to believe. I think that many people do it primarily out of interest/passion, but the reasons above are undeniably important to them.

 

[WingsFan]

I wouldn't count on Obamacare being the same law in ten years that it is now. Problems are going to come up and (hopefully) be addressed, and I think it will look fairly different from what's written in it today. The political aspect of healthcare is never going to stop evolving, so trying to predict the future based on what the law says today isn't likely to get you an accurate view of how things will end up.

 

[Columbia09]

It makes me laugh when people say that money isn't important when becoming a doctor. They obviously know nothing about the costs doctors have to pay just for training and emperor Obama doesn't care either.

 

[scarecrow90]

It makes me laugh when people say that money isn't important when becoming a doctor. They obviously know nothing about the costs doctors have to pay just for training and emperor Obama doesn't care either.

I don't think that people mean that they don't disregard the cost of becoming/being a physician. The thing is money shouldn't be the main emphasis for becoming a doc... it's not worth the pay you get when you can do something else that's a whole lot less stressful and get the same amount of money.

 

[Didierdrogba]

It makes me laugh when people say that money isn't important when becoming a doctor. They obviously know nothing about the costs doctors have to pay just for training and emperor Obama doesn't care either.

Just FYI, don't count on any president to fix this situation for us, democrat or repulican. We are easy targets in the eyes of the public

 

[Anicetus]

.

 

[Temperature101]

Just FYI, don't count on any president to fix this situation for us, democrat or repulican. We are easy targets in the eyes of the public

At least the repubs give us huge tax cut....

 

[Didierdrogba]

At least the repubs give us huge tax cut....

hard to do nowadays within pissing off the public

EDIT: with OUT, geez, what was wrong with me

 

[Anicetus]

hard to do nowadays within pissing off the public

Everyone looks out for their own interests.

 

[hallowmann]

I wouldn't count on Obamacare being the same law in ten years that it is now. Problems are going to come and (hopefully) be addressed, and I think it will look fairly different from what's written in it today. The political aspect of healthcare is never going to stop evolving, so trying to predict the future based on what the law says today isn't likely to get you an accurate view of how things will end up.

I'd have to agree with this. I'd call Obamacare a first step, just like any other major law or reform. I feel like it addresses some of the most pressing health concerns of many people in this country, but its very far from perfect. We have needed healthcare reform for a while. We as a nation should be ashamed that while we lead the world in health care expenditures per capita, we have some of the lowest healthcare outcomes of all the developed nations. There are better ways of doing it.

Most people fought kicking and screaming when Medicare came out. When it actually started benefiting people, the majority now says keep your hands off my Medicare. Only time will tell whether that'll be said about the ACA.

It makes me laugh when people say that money isn't important when becoming a doctor. They obviously know nothing about the costs doctors have to pay just for training and emperor Obama doesn't care either.

I think the whole point of what people are saying is: Money should not be THE reason to go into medicine. There are plenty of other routes that are shorter, easier and offer the same amount, if not more money. No one said money isn't important.