Is it True?

[TomBradyFan]

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Some of my friends shadowed several doctors and were told by them about doom-and-gloom stories about being physicians: sharply decreasing reimbursements from Medicare and insurance companies; having to comply with new AHCAA (aka "Obamacare") unfunded mandates regarding patient care; and having to pack in patients - and thus reduce time spent with them - in order to meet overhead costs.

I am not afraid of working the long hours that physicians put in and I wanted to pursue a career in healthcare to help better the lives of my patients, but I fear that with the aforementioned changes, being a physician would be a much more grinding and much less rewarding career, especially in respect to paying off med school debt and maintaining a family.

What I wish to ask the SDN community is that: Are these stories true? Is the future of being a physician no longer as secure as it used to be?

Btw, no troll.

 

[flodhi1]

Some of my friends shadowed several doctors and were told by them about doom-and-gloom stories about being physicians: sharply decreasing reimbursements from Medicare and insurance companies; having to comply with new AHCAA (aka "Obamacare") unfunded mandates regarding patient care; and having to pack in patients - and thus reduce time spent with them - in order to meet overhead costs.

I am not afraid of working the long hours that physicians put in and I wanted to pursue a career in healthcare to help better the lives of my patients, but I fear that with the aforementioned changes, being a physician would be a much more grinding and much less rewarding career, especially in respect to paying off med school debt and maintaining a family.

What I wish to ask the SDN community is that: Are these stories true? Is the future of being a physician no longer as secure as it used to be?

Btw, no troll.

Yes possibly but then again being a physician should be a passion that goes beyond the monetary gain or the typical words premeds love to use "I want to save lives".

 

[music2doc]

Some of my friends shadowed several doctors and were told by them about doom-and-gloom stories about being physicians: sharply decreasing reimbursements from Medicare and insurance companies; having to comply with new AHCAA (aka "Obamacare") unfunded mandates regarding patient care; and having to pack in patients - and thus reduce time spent with them - in order to meet overhead costs.

I am not afraid of working the long hours that physicians put in and I wanted to pursue a career in healthcare to help better the lives of my patients, but I fear that with the aforementioned changes, being a physician would be a much more grinding and much less rewarding career, especially in respect to paying off med school debt and maintaining a family.

What I wish to ask the SDN community is that: Are these stories true? Is the future of being a physician no longer as secure as it used to be?

Btw, no troll.

Maybe you should meet a few physicians yourself and learn some of these things first hand. That said, yes, what your friends have heard is very close to reality.

 

[tantacles]

Some of my friends shadowed several doctors and were told by them about doom-and-gloom stories about being physicians: sharply decreasing reimbursements from Medicare and insurance companies; having to comply with new AHCAA (aka "Obamacare") unfunded mandates regarding patient care; and having to pack in patients - and thus reduce time spent with them - in order to meet overhead costs.

I am not afraid of working the long hours that physicians put in and I wanted to pursue a career in healthcare to help better the lives of my patients, but I fear that with the aforementioned changes, being a physician would be a much more grinding and much less rewarding career, especially in respect to paying off med school debt and maintaining a family.

What I wish to ask the SDN community is that: Are these stories true? Is the future of being a physician no longer as secure as it used to be?

Btw, no troll.

It really depends on the field you go into and where you work, somewhat. In academic teaching hospitals, doctors are all salaried, so I perceive that it's less of a burden to those doctors than it is for the ones who work in private/group practices.

And for doctors that regularly work with patients who choose elective surgeries (not medically recommended for treatment of a condition, in this case. Not all elective surgeries.), it's unlikely that compensation will fall to a point where those doctors are at all in financial jeopardy - after all, they're being paid out-of-pocket.

 

[TomBradyFan]

Maybe you should meet a few physicians yourself and learn some of these things first hand. That said, yes, what your friends have heard is very close to reality.

Yes possibly but then again being a physician should be a passion that goes beyond the monetary gain or the typical words premeds love to use "I want to save lives".

It really depends on the field you go into and where you work, somewhat. In academic teaching hospitals, doctors are all salaried, so I perceive that it's less of a burden to those doctors than it is for the ones who work in private/group practices.

And for doctors that regularly work with patients who choose elective surgeries (not medically recommended for treatment of a condition, in this case. Not all elective surgeries.), it's unlikely that compensation will fall to a point where those doctors are at all in financial jeopardy - after all, they're being paid out-of-pocket.

Thanks for your responses guys! I'll definitely try meeting a few physicians and ask them about this myself.

 

[StoicJosher]

It really depends on the field you go into and where you work, somewhat. In academic teaching hospitals, doctors are all salaried, so I perceive that it's less of a burden to those doctors than it is for the ones who work in private/group practices.

And for doctors that regularly work with patients who choose elective surgeries (not medically recommended for treatment of a condition, in this case. Not all elective surgeries.), it's unlikely that compensation will fall to a point where those doctors are at all in financial jeopardy - after all, they're being paid out-of-pocket.

From what I understand, the most hit physicians are those that go into private practice.

 

[North12]

Some of my friends shadowed several doctors and were told by them about doom-and-gloom stories about being physicians: sharply decreasing reimbursements from Medicare and insurance companies; having to comply with new AHCAA (aka "Obamacare") unfunded mandates regarding patient care; and having to pack in patients - and thus reduce time spent with them - in order to meet overhead costs.

What you described sounds like Canada's system - come up and shadow for a bit and see what you think. Yes, this will lead to longer wait-times for patients (and thus more anxious patients) and the pay isnt nearly as good, but ultimately more people will have access to healthcare at a more affordable rate.

Ive met many Canadian physicians who work crazy hours and see patients they realize they might never get paid for (out of province etc), but they love what they do and that has to be what motivates you, what makes it all worthwhile.

 

[thomallama]

Is it True?

My first thought.

[YOUTUBE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0lTBUDBq8xw&feature=youtu.be[/YOUTUBE]

Feeling rather nostalgic today for some reason. 🙄

 

[notbobtrustme]

Private practice and primary care are dead. Doctors will be salaried employees of major hospitals and will be well compensated I believe.

 

[ZsaZsaM]

*Sigh* Every profession has its issues. What professional degree doesn't come without drama? Law is having its drama right now. Business has never looked promising for most of us mere mortals. Engineering is not particularly lucrative. Honestly, I don't think too hard about it. Naive, yes, but what choice do I have? I have to leave the house sometimes.