<p>NYTimes article on the disconent of doctors. </p>
<p>"As a physician, I could empathize. I too often feel overwhelmed with paperwork. But my friends discontent seemed to run much deeper than that. Unfortunately, he is not alone. I have been hearing physician colleagues voice a level of dissatisfaction with medical practice that is alarming."</p>
<p>"Doctors are working harder and faster to maintain income, even as staff salaries and costs of living continue to increase. Some have resorted to selling herbs and vitamins retail out of their offices to make up for decreasing revenue. Others are limiting their practices just to patients who can pay out of pocket."</p>
<p>"In surveys, increasing numbers of doctors attest to diminishing enthusiasm for medicine and say they would discourage a friend or family member from going into the profession."</p>
<p><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/17/health/views/17essa.html?ref=health%5B/url%5D">http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/17/health/views/17essa.html?ref=health</a></p>
<p>ok so all u med students and hopeful future doctors, what do think about his article? i really want to be a doctor but these types of articles about the negative parts of medicine is making me think twice.</p>
<p>Medicine has been going downhill for a while now. I don't think the article raises any new issues nor does it present a full picture. Yes, cardiologists work a lot of hours. Where's the mention of how much they're making?</p>
<p>The article just scratches the frustrations of practicing medicine. The salaries in primary care specialties are dwindling and the headaches are increasing. There is no balance. Good luck in exploring all your options. But before you go into debt for med school weigh all of your options. Like where do you want to settle down eventually, what kind of lifestyle you expect, etc. Talk to doctors in the specialties that might interest you. I am sure there is still satisfaction in some areas of the country where the model of practicing has changed already to avoid collapse of the system.</p>
<p>There have been these types of articles about the future of medicine since at least the mid 80s. I'm sure that back in the 50's when things like specialized residencies began cropping up in great numbers there were similar sentiments that medicine was doomed...may not have made the papers, but I bet the old timers were concerned.</p>
<p>Are insurance companies frustrating? absolutely. I've yet to see any major treatment decisions reversed because of them, but I'm sure it happens. Things are expensive, and I know, even in the student run clinic at my school, we had to make changes to the drugs we used based on cost. Some of our providers weren't happy about it when we put together a VA like formulary and required trials of lower cost drugs but it had to be done.</p>
<p>Am I up to my eyeballs in debt? You bet your sweet a**. Do I realistically comprehend how much debt I'm in? NOPE...it's like Monopoly money at the moment. Is my debt load causing me to avoid certain specialities? Not really, but I'm sure that I have probably a few classmates with whom that's a consideration. I bet if I went to a private medical school, I'd have a great number more who felt that way. </p>
<p>I've never understood docs who complain about paperwork. I'm a third year, and I have to deal with paperwork. It's not like it's new. I'm going to have to deal with all sorts of paperwork to get a residency in the next year. Different aim to be sure, but all part of the game. </p>
<p>Honestly, I think all these docs they get who complain so much are forgetting that it's work. If it was fun, they'd call it fun. I mean, I'm having a blast being a third year. I catch myself walking down the halls smiling about being at the hospital in my white coat. I enjoy what I'm doing, but are there about a 30 other things I'd rather be doing? Things I'd be having a lot more fun, with a lot less stress? Of course. Do I dislike having to get up at 4:30am so that I can see all my patients before 6:15 and have my notes written? You bet, but I realize what it is. Work is work, fun is fun. You do the things required of you so you can do the things you want to. If you don't like being in private practice, there are other options...join a bigger group, go to an academic center so that residents/fellows do the work for you, set up a boutique practice, become a consultant, do locum tenens, there are other options. Hell, if you really want to change, you can go back to a residency program and try a new specialty...talk about working hard and not getting paid for it.</p>
<p>Articles like this don't bother me all that much. BRM is right, it's a job, so I can't expect it to be all fun. What I do expect is that it will be satisfying and that I'll be able to take as much (and hopefully more) enjoyment out of my job as most people get out of their jobs because I'm doing something for which I know I'm suited. I can't imagine doing anything else as my profession. Maybe that's na</p>
<p>i think its mostly based about the Internal Medicine docs. I mean i dont see orthopedic surgeons complaining about their job etc.....</p>
<p>Psychiatry Residents - Is the Work Ethic What it Used to Be? </p>
<hr>
<p>Here's something from a Psychiatry forum I frequent. Not sure if it belongs here, but I thought the perspective might be interesting.</p>
<p>"As already mentioned, these changes are certainly not limited to psych residents. There are significant changes in expectations and identification throughout medicine (if not society as a whole). My residents (anesthesiology) used to think of themselves as physicians first. Now they see themselves as something else (skiers, runners, travelers, etc.) who happen to practice medicine in order to make a living. There are feelings of entitlement that seem to run deep. I am not convinced that this is simply due to the shortened work week during residency. I think there are larger societal issues at play (some of which have already been noted). I am still amazed when we interview people fresh out of residency for an attending slot, who will tell us at interview that they won't take call, won't work weekends and need to leave the O.R. by 5 p.m. The approach to work is sloppy. The response to criticism is "whatever". While I can still find good residents now and again, I feel that many of them are just training to be technicians rather than what I would think of as a physician."</p>
<p>P.S. Bigredmed You said...</p>
<p>Do I dislike having to get up at 4:30am so that I can see all my patients before 6:15 and have my notes written? </p>
<p>Are you saying your going to bed?!?</p>
<p>Joking!!!</p>
<p>i don't think that's a sense of entitlement -- those docs are just looking out for their own best interests, that is, their personal lives. i would do the same thing in their situation, and i'm sure if you were in a lifestyle specialty then you would too. why else would you choose such a specialty? low pay and a lot of hours? i think not...</p>
<p>why else would you choose such a specialty? </p>
<p>If you mean Psychiatriy (low pay and lots of hours... don't think that's as true of anesthesiology), how about because it is so fascinating? That's why I chose it. Didn't do my "homework". But I don't think you could have convinced me otherwise.</p>
<p>yeah i'm sure that's why most of these docs today choose the ROAD specialties...because those specialties are soooo fascinating. screw that -- i'd do radiology for the $$$ in a heartbeat. not to mention the lack of clinical exposure and the relative ease of pursuing research interests on the side.</p>
<p>Shrinkrap, you must be practicing psych somewhere far away from me...Didn't seem like the Psychiatrists I was with on my clerkship were working very long hours.</p>
<p>what is "ROAD"? I guess "low pay and lots of hours" are relative, and I don't work long hours (although I'd have to to make "doctor" money.). I was quoting the poster above me.</p>
<p>MolsysBio, would you say the post from the Physicians forum is an (otherwise) accurate reflection of where your "at"? Where ARE you at, in the process, BTW?</p>
<p>ROAD= Radiology, Ophthalmology, Anesthesia and Dermatology; the 'lifestyle' specialties</p>
<p>^^that was weird (why did my post show up before the one I read?)</p>
<p>shrinkrap, what are you on? i don't think psychiatrists view cocaine as a viable method of treatment these days. if i were you, i'd rather make the doctor money than comment on this forum all day...just a suggestion.</p>
<p>^Sheesh! And I thought I was off today!</p>
<p>Did I offend? I thought it was a reasonable question regarding perspectives of people with aspirations for a career in medicine. Thanks for that!</p>