House passes health care bill on 219-212 vote

[AOII Angel]

Originally Posted by Alumiyum

My point is spending a little more time to figure it out in the first place would decrease repeated visits and a lot of irritation on both ends. I realize a few people are going to come through with true mystery illnesses, but surely those are minority cases. Specialists that I have been referred to have been no more helpful than the two doctors I've been to before. Not taking no for an answer is easier said than done when doctors simply don't want to take the time to find the problem. I'll eventually find the right doctor but in the meantime it's frustrating to spend copious amounts of time and money shopping around, especially since I know it would be easier for a doctor that has already seen me to get a read on the problem than a new one who has to review my file and start from scratch. (For the record the only helpful hint I've gotten is actually from a family friend who is a doctor and suggested an autoimmune disease, and as the only disease in that category that can be ruled out in my case is HIV my next step is to present this theory to my doctor...we'll see how it goes this time.)

The problem with this is that physicians are not paid to spend time with patients. Primary care physicians have been slowly cut down over the years to such minimal reimbursements so that they have to see patients every ten minutes. In order to see enough patients to pay their rent, office staff and make a reasonable salary, they have to see patients that frequently. Thank the medicare cuts. It's frustrating for physicians, as well, even though you think it's not. Doctors really do want to spend more time with their patients. That's why some doctors have started concierge services where they limit their patient load and charge a set fee for all you want medical service. It's expensive, but you get impeccable care.

[Beryana]

Originally Posted by AOII Angel

The problem with this is that physicians are not paid to spend time with patients. Primary care physicians have been slowly cut down over the years to such minimal reimbursements so that they have to see patients every ten minutes. In order to see enough patients to pay their rent, office staff and make a reasonable salary, they have to see patients that frequently. Thank the medicare cuts. It's frustrating for physicians, as well, even though you think it's not. Doctors really do want to spend more time with their patients. That's why some doctors have started concierge services where they limit their patient load and charge a set fee for all you want medical service. It's expensive, but you get impeccable care.

Which is why some of us are leaving the broken system and finding a doctor with whom we can actually build a relationship. Doctors CAN fix the broken system as well, insurance is not the be all end all solution to this country's medical problems.

[Alumiyum]

Originally Posted by AOII Angel

The problem with this is that physicians are not paid to spend time with patients. Primary care physicians have been slowly cut down over the years to such minimal reimbursements so that they have to see patients every ten minutes. In order to see enough patients to pay their rent, office staff and make a reasonable salary, they have to see patients that frequently. Thank the medicare cuts. It's frustrating for physicians, as well, even though you think it's not. Doctors really do want to spend more time with their patients. That's why some doctors have started concierge services where they limit their patient load and charge a set fee for all you want medical service. It's expensive, but you get impeccable care.

Maybe you should stop taking it so personally. No one ever said all doctors don't care and I in fact did acknowledge the fact that things get difficult sometimes. But things get difficult in EVERY profession and there are a LOT of people in careers for the job and not the money. The difference is many of those careers aren't involved directly in the medical health of clients. None of what you've said rules out the suggestion that doctors try to touch the bases the first time around saving time and money for both doctor and patient. Some do and will, but it's so difficult to find them while wading through those that have decided most of us aren't worth their time.

My hometown includes many, many doctors, lawyers, CEO's, etc. Several family friends have switched to a pay to be a patient system. All of them admitted it was because they wanted to work three days a week but keep their same lifestyle. No, that's certainly not the motivation for every doctor who goes this route, but it isn't all about scraping by.

Is anyone else excited about the tanning bed tax? As a former tanorexic who three years ago had a come to jesus meeting with the dermatologist I am glad their starting to acknowledge just exactly how dangerous tanning is.

[AOII Angel]

Originally Posted by Alumiyum

Maybe you should stop taking it so personally. No one ever said all doctors don't care and I in fact did acknowledge the fact that things get difficult sometimes. But things get difficult in EVERY profession and there are a LOT of people in careers for the job and not the money. The difference is many of those careers aren't involved directly in the medical health of clients. None of what you've said rules out the suggestion that doctors try to touch the bases the first time around saving time and money for both doctor and patient. Some do and will, but it's so difficult to find them while wading through those that have decided most of us aren't worth their time.

My hometown includes many, many doctors, lawyers, CEO's, etc. Several family friends have switched to a pay to be a patient system. All of them admitted it was because they wanted to work three days a week but keep their same lifestyle. No, that's certainly not the motivation for every doctor who goes this route, but it isn't all about scraping by.

Is anyone else excited about the tanning bed tax? As a former tanorexic who three years ago had a come to jesus meeting with the dermatologist I am glad their starting to acknowledge just exactly how dangerous tanning is.

I'm not taking it personally. I'm not a primary care physician. I'm just telling you why they don't spend more time with patients. It's the way things are. I know a lot of primary care physicians, and they all say the same thing. I personally spend LOTS of time with my patients, but I have that option because I read very fast and am not limited by reimbursement patterns. Also, there is no reason a physician who has gone to school a minimum of 9 years with an average of $100,000 of school loans should have to scrape by. Look at the reimbursement codes if you don't believe me. Primary care physicians are by no means rich physicians. That's why there is a shortage, and medical students can't be persuaded to go into those fields.