Comments on: House of Cards http://distractible.org/2008/08/20/house-of-cards/ Thoughts of a moderately strange (yet not harmful) primary care physician. Tue, 16 Mar 2010 07:59:05 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: some dude named steevo http://distractible.org/2008/08/20/house-of-cards/comment-page-1/#comment-2204 some dude named steevo Sat, 23 Aug 2008 15:49:09 +0000 http://distractible.org/2008/08/20/house-of-cards/#comment-2204 Robin and Gary: I am not leaving medicine (I just took my recertification boards last month, so I have to get my money's worth...). I am currently doing full spectrum family practice with obstetrics and I am just winding down on the obstetrics. There are several reasons I am ceasing deliveries, but the main reason is I have just lost my passion for delivering babies. I have no intention of quitting medicine altogether, but I have sort of given up hope that it will improve anytime soon. I have tried practicing in several different states over the past 10 years but it seems to be bad everywhere. I am just trying to accept the fact things will not be what I expected. Robin and Gary: I am not leaving medicine (I just took my recertification boards last month, so I have to get my money’s worth…). I am currently doing full spectrum family practice with obstetrics and I am just winding down on the obstetrics. There are several reasons I am ceasing deliveries, but the main reason is I have just lost my passion for delivering babies. I have no intention of quitting medicine altogether, but I have sort of given up hope that it will improve anytime soon. I have tried practicing in several different states over the past 10 years but it seems to be bad everywhere. I am just trying to accept the fact things will not be what I expected.

]]> By: Gary L http://distractible.org/2008/08/20/house-of-cards/comment-page-1/#comment-2203 Gary L Sat, 23 Aug 2008 15:24:00 +0000 http://distractible.org/2008/08/20/house-of-cards/#comment-2203 to Some dude named "Steevo"; Hey dude, look at this way. Life has it's seasons, and you did it for awhile....time for change....and think how great it will feel not to have been up all night and drag around the next two days....you won't be grouchy, you will have all your energy to be with your family, and you are darn well right about the wife and kiddies. Not only will you get to know your kids, but they will know you.....that is your legacy. And you might be surprised to find out how others have transitioned to other careers....I can give you several resources to give you ideas. Let me know, drop me an email gmlevinmd@gmail.com (semi retired ophthalmologist )at age 55...now 65..... Gary L to Some dude named “Steevo”;

Hey dude, look at this way. Life has it’s seasons, and you did it for awhile….time for change….and think how great it will feel not to have been up all night and drag around the next two days….you won’t be grouchy, you will have all your energy to be with your family, and you are darn well right about the wife and kiddies. Not only will you get to know your kids, but they will know you…..that is your legacy.

And you might be surprised to find out how others have transitioned to other careers….I can give you several resources to give you ideas. Let me know, drop me an email gmlevinmd@gmail.com (semi retired ophthalmologist )at age 55…now 65…..

Gary L

]]> By: Robin http://distractible.org/2008/08/20/house-of-cards/comment-page-1/#comment-2199 Robin Sat, 23 Aug 2008 14:14:16 +0000 http://distractible.org/2008/08/20/house-of-cards/#comment-2199 Mornin', all... Steevo, I have a feeling you will be missed. If you have your own children (and it sounds like you do), you are so right about time with them, though. My mother warned me about how quickly they grow up, and she was so right. She also told me they weren't mine to keep and that God had just loaned them to me. She's a wise lady. I hope you find your niche and are happy in whatever you choose to do. Mornin’, all…

Steevo, I have a feeling you will be missed. If you have your own children (and it sounds like you do), you are so right about time with them, though. My mother warned me about how quickly they grow up, and she was so right. She also told me they weren’t mine to keep and that God had just loaned them to me. She’s a wise lady. I hope you find your niche and are happy in whatever you choose to do.

]]> By: Rob http://distractible.org/2008/08/20/house-of-cards/comment-page-1/#comment-2197 Rob Sat, 23 Aug 2008 12:32:28 +0000 http://distractible.org/2008/08/20/house-of-cards/#comment-2197 It's just great for me to have a reader who goes by the name: "some dude named steevo." It’s just great for me to have a reader who goes by the name: “some dude named steevo.”

]]> By: some dude named steevo http://distractible.org/2008/08/20/house-of-cards/comment-page-1/#comment-2196 some dude named steevo Sat, 23 Aug 2008 05:51:18 +0000 http://distractible.org/2008/08/20/house-of-cards/#comment-2196 Robin, I guess the 1% is just a guess, it could be a little higher but I am trying to stay positive. Those people posting on the NYT site remind of my patients when I was in the military... I don't really have a choice, I can't afford to start another career right now. I am just going to stop delivering babies, I don't really deliver enough right now to pay for my malpractice insurance so it doesn't make sense. I am also tired of getting called at all hours. My family is more important to me than my career, I don't want to miss my kids growing up. Too bad though, there is nothing more magical than guiding a child into the world. Robin, I guess the 1% is just a guess, it could be a little higher but I am trying to stay positive. Those people posting on the NYT site remind of my patients when I was in the military…

I don’t really have a choice, I can’t afford to start another career right now. I am just going to stop delivering babies, I don’t really deliver enough right now to pay for my malpractice insurance so it doesn’t make sense. I am also tired of getting called at all hours. My family is more important to me than my career, I don’t want to miss my kids growing up. Too bad though, there is nothing more magical than guiding a child into the world.

]]> By: outre http://distractible.org/2008/08/20/house-of-cards/comment-page-1/#comment-2183 outre Fri, 22 Aug 2008 12:43:19 +0000 http://distractible.org/2008/08/20/house-of-cards/#comment-2183 <i>“No matter what happens, we physicians are going to get screwed.”</i> That's what I hear every time I goto my professional conferences except obviously physicians are replaced by what I am. There maybe at most 1000 people in the US that do what I am... it's difficult to get our voices heard. It's disheartening, being relatively young in my field to head into what appears to be the path to doom. But people who are saying this are people who've seen 'better times' so maybe I won't think it's so bad. Recently, the congress tried passing a bill that'd have a drastic negative impact on my and creative artistic professions in general. Well...the bill's been in the works for a few years but anyway... The bill was going to get fast-tracked/voted last month, as of now it's on hold. It did take years of efforts of artist groups from all over the country (and internationally) to get it to that point. “No matter what happens, we physicians are going to get screwed.”

That’s what I hear every time I goto my professional conferences except obviously physicians are replaced by what I am. There maybe at most 1000 people in the US that do what I am… it’s difficult to get our voices heard. It’s disheartening, being relatively young in my field to head into what appears to be the path to doom. But people who are saying this are people who’ve seen ‘better times’ so maybe I won’t think it’s so bad.

Recently, the congress tried passing a bill that’d have a drastic negative impact on my and creative artistic professions in general. Well…the bill’s been in the works for a few years but anyway… The bill was going to get fast-tracked/voted last month, as of now it’s on hold. It did take years of efforts of artist groups from all over the country (and internationally) to get it to that point.

]]> By: Ken O. http://distractible.org/2008/08/20/house-of-cards/comment-page-1/#comment-2182 Ken O. Fri, 22 Aug 2008 08:58:01 +0000 http://distractible.org/2008/08/20/house-of-cards/#comment-2182 Q) Who <b>always</b> gets the money when insewerants premiums go up? A) The insewerers! They might return some of that increased money to the "service providers" (be they doctors, auto bodyshops, jobbing builders...), but it's a racing certainty that a premium increase doesn't result in a reduced profit for the insewerer! Q) Who always gets the money when insewerants premiums go up?

A) The insewerers! They might return some of that increased money to the “service providers” (be they doctors, auto bodyshops, jobbing builders…), but it’s a racing certainty that a premium increase doesn’t result in a reduced profit for the insewerer!

]]> By: Gary L http://distractible.org/2008/08/20/house-of-cards/comment-page-1/#comment-2181 Gary L Fri, 22 Aug 2008 06:39:57 +0000 http://distractible.org/2008/08/20/house-of-cards/#comment-2181 re: Primary care I believe you are right about the politicians getting it. See my blog for today http://healthtrain.blogspot.com re: Primary care
I believe you are right about the politicians getting it.
See my blog for today http://healthtrain.blogspot.com

]]> By: mottsapplesauce http://distractible.org/2008/08/20/house-of-cards/comment-page-1/#comment-2180 mottsapplesauce Fri, 22 Aug 2008 04:35:47 +0000 http://distractible.org/2008/08/20/house-of-cards/#comment-2180 I hear ya Phil. My husband & I have chronic health issues. The insurance we carried for the last eight years decided to increase the premiums by 45%! That's a huge increase! Yet, their fee schedules keep going down... The insurance CEO's (private/commercial) make millions of dollars. I'm not saying they don't have a right to make money, but they just keep on getting richer, while their policyholders are denied proper treatments (or reimbursements are delayed for several months). Seems evil doesn't it? But, that's the nature of the free-market. There's very little accountability, even with government funding. I hear ya Phil. My husband & I have chronic health issues. The insurance we carried for the last eight years decided to increase the premiums by 45%! That’s a huge increase! Yet, their fee schedules keep going down… The insurance CEO’s (private/commercial) make millions of dollars. I’m not saying they don’t have a right to make money, but they just keep on getting richer, while their policyholders are denied proper treatments (or reimbursements are delayed for several months).
Seems evil doesn’t it? But, that’s the nature of the free-market. There’s very little accountability, even with government funding.

]]> By: philb http://distractible.org/2008/08/20/house-of-cards/comment-page-1/#comment-2178 philb Fri, 22 Aug 2008 02:32:17 +0000 http://distractible.org/2008/08/20/house-of-cards/#comment-2178 Ha! Nobody is ever gonna mistake me for a budget director! I am just a patient with insurance premiums going thru the roof. When I discovered that I had a rare endocrine disease 3 years ago, I opted to pay to "upgrade" from my HMO plan to the QPOS so that I could go out of network to utilize testing and treatment from more experienced doctors than were in-network. I am willing to pay the increase along with my regular monthly premiums of over $800. per month. But last month I had to cut out all out-of network benefits, as the premiums went up an additional $62. per week. If the doctors are complaining that they are not getting the $$, then what am I paying for? Who gets the cash? Ha! Nobody is ever gonna mistake me for a budget director! I am just a patient with insurance premiums going thru the roof. When I discovered that I had a rare endocrine disease 3 years ago, I opted to pay to “upgrade” from my HMO plan to the QPOS so that I could go out of network to utilize testing and treatment from more experienced doctors than were in-network.
I am willing to pay the increase along with my regular monthly premiums of over $800. per month.
But last month I had to cut out all out-of network benefits, as the premiums went up an additional $62. per week. If the doctors are complaining that they are not getting the $$, then what am I paying for? Who gets the cash?

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