Many, many in the medical field say what is generally reflected ITT: that they'll learn how the system works in more depth when they actually enter the field, in med school and beyond, and that we as undergrads shouldn't worry too much about it.
That's fine and dandy, but the reality that I've seen and have had doctors agree with is this: you don't have the damn time when you're training and practicing to learn how all this **** works. You'll be so swarmed with medical things to learn, clinic runs to make, and other stuff that learning the macro side of things just isn't on the top of your priority list, especially if you've never been exposed to it and taken an interest early on in your premedical career.
Medical practitioners think they know a lot about the system just because they're a part of it and actively participating, but try thrive on hearsay and myths, not evidence and logical arguments. Ask an average doc about reform and compare it to what KFF or RWJF writes about it. It's astounding. They don't know jack ****, and I don't blame them. If you never get into anything, how are you expected to keep up to date with these things?
I'm generalizing, but this sentiment is held by physicians (at least those I can read about) and health policy experts as well. Medical schools are finally starting to make health policy a required course in MS1, and it's about time.
How important is it for a doctor to know? That's debatable for some, but I'd say a hella lot.
So yay for the OP. As a political science major concentrating in my self-crafted health policy concentration, I find the following helpful for being kept abreast:
The Bible of health policy for practitioners:
http://www.amazon.com/Understanding-Health-Policy-Sixth-Edition/dp/0071770526
Will give you all the basics and enough details to become informed properly.
NEJM/JAMA "Perspective" pieces. Sign up for eTOCs in your inbox. These are like op-eds and often about policy.
RWJF Briefs. Same thing, inbox notifications when a report or something cool in policy research is published.
Health Affairs, JHPPL, any other top ranked HSR journals. No one has the time to read all the articles, but the former two are monthly and always organized by topic, so reading 2-3 in a month is not out of the question. If something sparks your interest, Google is your friend.
This **** is cool and interesting, and will affect the next generation of physicians like no other generation before us.
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