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I read this on American Medical News yesterday (March 24-31 issue) and thought I'd get people's opinion on the problem.
When asked about differences between todays residents and residents some 20 years ago, Dr Mindum, a 83-year-old psychiatry resident, answered: "My fellow residents are not as sharp at physical diagnosis and not quite as attentive to the needs of the patient. They don't have time. I'm not sure medicine is as satisfying for them as it has been for me. They don't get to know the patient. My patients were always my friends."
This is to me some disturbing observation, and I keep hearing it over and over. I feel like the aspect of medicine that attracted me the most is being taken away. I know we live a different life today. With insurance company's MBAs regulating how much time you spend with a patient, medical school loan debt getting higher and higher, physicians can afford to see 5 patients a day anymore. But, we don't have to sacrifice the quality and beauty of the art of healing for financial reasons. I don't quite believe it's all about money either. Something else must be going on. I am not sure what it is however. Maybe you do. Please help me out here.
I'd like to hear what my fellow future MDs think.
When asked about differences between todays residents and residents some 20 years ago, Dr Mindum, a 83-year-old psychiatry resident, answered: "My fellow residents are not as sharp at physical diagnosis and not quite as attentive to the needs of the patient. They don't have time. I'm not sure medicine is as satisfying for them as it has been for me. They don't get to know the patient. My patients were always my friends."
This is to me some disturbing observation, and I keep hearing it over and over. I feel like the aspect of medicine that attracted me the most is being taken away. I know we live a different life today. With insurance company's MBAs regulating how much time you spend with a patient, medical school loan debt getting higher and higher, physicians can afford to see 5 patients a day anymore. But, we don't have to sacrifice the quality and beauty of the art of healing for financial reasons. I don't quite believe it's all about money either. Something else must be going on. I am not sure what it is however. Maybe you do. Please help me out here.
I'd like to hear what my fellow future MDs think.
