Medical Brain Drain

[Cambist]

I was talking to a Tea Party Member this past weekend and we had a discussion about the future of healthcare. It was a civilized discussion where we mostly agreed to disagree although we did find a few small items to agree on.

Anyway....when we discussed the future of healthcare this person made the statement that if our system became more socilaized, the smartest people would stop going to medical school because they coudln't make the money.

I disagreed. Completely....

What are your thoughts?

[peppermint]

There may be some people shifting fields, but overall, those who have the intelligence to practice medicine will still do so. Though money is a contributing factor, most people do not become doctors solely for the money.
The requirements for medical school are going to drop so it's not as though idiots will take over.

[Sapphire]

<-------Thought this thread was going to be about medical marijuana.

I don't think everyone becomes a doctor to make money. I'm sure some actually want to help people and make a difference. Then there's follow in parents footsteps, personal passion, etc.

Would they even make so little that they would suffer financially. I mean let's face it... doctor's make a boatload of money now, how much would they actually lose? I also don't think this would affect every type of doctor (but I could be wrong). I don't think that only the "smartest" people necessarily go to med school... they also go into finance, engineering, teaching, business, science, architechture, etc. Yes, you have to have good grades to get in, but I don't think that "dummies" are going to start making it through all the sudden because the healthcare bill passed.

At any rate, I think at this point it's all too soon to tell. I think folks are just scared about something new that we don't quite understand.

[Julie Art]

As much stuff I've seen sorors, fraternity brothers, and even one of my co-worker's wife go through just to become a doctor, money isn't the only motivator. Its part of it, but not solely it. You have to have a passion for it or you aren't going to make it, period.

[Cambist]

I agree with you guys. This guys point was that doctors have to make high salaries in order to pay off massive student loan debt. I called bullshit.

If we moved to a universal healthcare system, medical school would become less expensive, NP's would probably become a larger field and small clinics would become the norm.

I watched as my wife and her classmates suffered through Veterinary school....nobody does that just to make money.

[nsync]

No the ones who truly love medicine will be left. That will have its advantages and disadvantages just like everything. This doctors are full of it these days prescribing meds to bring in dollars for the pharmc's. Suggesting surgeries when there are alternatives this includes the national increase in csections. 5 to 10 minute office visits being billed a full price. Its truly a disgrace.

Do any of you watch nurse Jackie?


Anyhow I had to get with one of my specialists recently to husbands dismay. Lol I tried to work with this man but he was rude condescending and did not have my best interest at mind. I let him know in a polite yet direct way that I was not around so that he could live in the burbs drive a nice car and send his kids to school. Respect me respect my care or I will get the clinical advice from some who is in it for the love it.

I've noticed that a lot of the old school doctors are more well rounded and object to the way the field is now ran. Yet sometimes they are out of touch with what's current. Sigh you can't have it all lol

[BlackPrincess]

Cam, not to diss your buddy but FIRST, any member of the Tea Party loose my respect because I see them as Sarah Palin disciples...

Furthermore, he proves my point with the very statement we are discussing...he diminished the value of the practice of medicine and all its components to $$. While I admit that many folks go into medicine because its a lucrative field, for most its not the PRIMARY reason. Furthermore he makes the assumption that now, "dumb" folks are now going to flood medical schools but "dumb" folks won't be able to pass a class to pass the boards to eventually practice medicine! The good thing is, they can always make dumb statements like your buddy!

My thoughts? I wonder how many patients in Cuba die from the FAILURE of socialized medicine.

[nsync]

I do think the price take on being a medical practitioner is a carrot stick hanging out there. It make the pain that much more worthwhile. However there is a difference between desire to get paid what you deserve and greed.

[T-Rex91]

The truly lucrative specialities (those focused on elective procedures like plastic surgery, etc ) are unaffected by the socialization. There has already been a significant drop in med students going into the more affected areas like primary care and at least according to the few PCP's I've talked to, they think the legislation will help because it will 1)streamline processes, 2)create incentives to practice in underserved areas, and 3) normalize Medicare/medicaid reimbursements versus insurance. I actually haven't talked to one yet that was opposed.

[Noble Work]

"No the ones who truly love medicine will be left. That will have its advantages and disadvantages just like everything. This doctors are full of it these days prescribing meds to bring in dollars for the pharmc's. Suggesting surgeries when there are alternatives this includes the national increase in csections. 5 to 10 minute office visits being billed a full price. Its truly a disgrace."

This right here is what I believe was President Obama's prime motivator to push this thing. It does seem like Some Doctors these days ARE in medicine for the wrong reasons. Some like only the title they receive and not the quality care they provide. Too many rely on a Prescription pad to make illnesses go away.