Physicians ceded control of health care. It ’s time to take it back.

In the not-to-distant past, American health care was the gold standard. It offered job satisfaction and autonomy, was financially rewarding and was considered by many to be the most honorable profession. But as we all know, over the last two decades, increasing health care costs and demands and increasing competition for insurance contracts have changed the face of medicine. Metrics ranging from quality and safety (which are needed and were not a priority) to patient satisfaction, wait times, access, EMRs, decreased ancillary staff and revenue have changed the face of medicine. Long gone are the days of seeing one’s physician and making eye contact and getting to know the patient as a whole rather than a symptom. While most physicians started out with the idealism to change the world one patient at a time, the pressures outlined above have made it impossible. The value of educating young medical students and residents and mentoring junior faculty has been eliminated. The bottom line is the bottom line. Today, it’s all about money. But who is making it? Doctors are now no more than employees of large corporations. However, unlike big business that promotes quality and gives appropriate compensation, medicine is now driven by volume only. Continue reading ... Your patients are rating you online: How to respond. Manage your online reputation: A social media guide. Find out how.
Source: Kevin, M.D. - Medical Weblog - Category: Journals (General) Authors: Tags: Physician Health reform Source Type: blogs