Is America Running Out of Doctors?

by Heisenberg Posted 2012/07/31 18:00:00

Related Topics: Obamacare, Doctors, Health, Medicare, Health Care, Health Care Reform

717 votes
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	Yes	503 votes	70%
	No	214 votes	30%

Some reports suggest that by the year 2025, America could have a shortage of 100,000 doctors. Are doctors in the U.S. on the decline?

THEWEEK.COM reports:
ObamaCare is set to expand the number of insured Americans, but an apparent shortage of doctors could make it difficult to treat them all.

+20

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kurtanderson1 2012/07/31 15:05:56

Yes

+20
Can you blame them for avoiding this profession? Oh I want to be a lawsuit-magnet with a six-figure student loan debt and an average 80 hour-plus work week in a country that has upheld Obama-care.
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Lester 2012/07/31 15:29:03

No

+6
There are plenty of doctors. The problem is too many specialists and not enough general practitioners.

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Silicon... to Lester 2012/07/31 15:43:40

+5
That's because general practitioners just can't make good money, you have to specialize, things will get worse if 0bamacare stick more will leave to chase the money and less will choose this path as a career choice. To much work for the pay....
Have friends in Canada they can get care anytime (with wait, sometimes painful) but not wellness care. Blood pressure, yearly checkups, etc you wait for years on a list to get assigned a doctor or for major medical.

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gocar to Silicon... 2012/07/31 15:56:05

+3
Thngs will not get worse. Nothing could be as bad as the shambles we are in now. I went to an ER with a broken wrist. Saw no doctor, had an Xray, pain pill, splint until able to make an appointment with surgeon. Bill $2000 --- outrageous.

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gocar to Lester 2012/07/31 15:54:13

+2
That is also a factor. Medical School is so very expensive that in order to pay back the loans most doctors decide to specialize in order to make more money. We need to start covering the cost of family practice doctors so that more will opt for that.

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Jeff Smith 2012/07/31 15:27:20

No

+4
There being imported from all over the world unfortunately many can't speak English and need a translator in the room with you when your discussing your medical needs with your new doctor.

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Golden Panther 2012/07/31 15:23:25

Yes

+6
No question about this one. If this malignant obumbocare bill is not overturned the health of this nation will be worse than the worst of the third world nations. First, the plan is to kill off the seniors by denying them treatment for their maladies...this will have impact on a lot of doctors who will have big moral problems with this form of genocide. A great many of them will retire. Those left will soon be facing massive pay cuts as some flunky in the administration will determine how much each will earn...have heard as little as $60,000 per year...hell, many on welfare, food stamps, disability, etc.

As for the future, would you do the following for 60 grand a year: be in the upper 5% of your high school class; be able to get into a decent college and excel grade wise for four years of premed; score high enough on the SATs to gain entrance to Med School; spend another four years in Med School and obtaining qualifying grades for graduation; get through a internship residency, again with very good to outstanding results and then become a bonafide doctor of medicine who still must be board certified in various specialties. I THINK NOT!

Add to the horns of dilemma of no additional hospitals, clinics, nurses, technical people, and administrative personnel to treat the ...

No question about this one. If this malignant obumbocare bill is not overturned the health of this nation will be worse than the worst of the third world nations. First, the plan is to kill off the seniors by denying them treatment for their maladies...this will have impact on a lot of doctors who will have big moral problems with this form of genocide. A great many of them will retire. Those left will soon be facing massive pay cuts as some flunky in the administration will determine how much each will earn...have heard as little as $60,000 per year...hell, many on welfare, food stamps, disability, etc.

As for the future, would you do the following for 60 grand a year: be in the upper 5% of your high school class; be able to get into a decent college and excel grade wise for four years of premed; score high enough on the SATs to gain entrance to Med School; spend another four years in Med School and obtaining qualifying grades for graduation; get through a internship residency, again with very good to outstanding results and then become a bonafide doctor of medicine who still must be board certified in various specialties. I THINK NOT!

Add to the horns of dilemma of no additional hospitals, clinics, nurses, technical people, and administrative personnel to treat the 30 million newcomers.

Last, but not least is the fact that some moron hack, maybe or maybe not with GED, in Washington DC is able to over rule the doctors. Obumbo and his communist, Muslim, racists ilk must be voted out of office.
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Striker to Golden ... 2012/07/31 19:01:28

But Romney is the same. Free Market healthcare means vote Libertarian.

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kotabear 2012/07/31 15:11:55

Yes

+3
Hire more then!

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Squatch 2012/07/31 15:09:42

Yes

+5
A lot like starting a business Doctors will go thru 10 years of Hell - 8 in college and 2 in residency for the payoff at the end, which is a big salary. If that is going to substantially cut by Socialized Medicine then there will be less people who want to go thru the torture of Medical School.
Also, even if the MD rate stays the same as far as Grads etc.... The patient increase is about to become substantial.
I am a USAF Nurse and I am actually getting a Master's degree in a non-nursing career field because I refuse to try to take care of too many patients to provide safe / effective care for less money than I am making now.
Sorry if that sounds selfish, but since the Congress did not pass tort reform into the Bill, taking care of my family trumps taking care of patients. No way I am losing my house in a frivilous lawsuit.

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Striker to Squatch 2012/07/31 19:03:01

Tort Reform could help somewhat, but the free market must return to medicine and more.

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Squatch to Striker 2012/08/01 15:03:28

+1
Agreed.

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kurtanderson1 2012/07/31 15:05:56

Yes

+20
Can you blame them for avoiding this profession? Oh I want to be a lawsuit-magnet with a six-figure student loan debt and an average 80 hour-plus work week in a country that has upheld Obama-care.

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me to kurtand... 2012/08/01 17:44:03

+3
But not to worry.. The void will be filled by foreign doctors, [similar to taxi cab drivers], that will be employed by the government, following government edicts and practices, giving everyone the type of care that the government feels you deserve..

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Korgull to kurtand... 2012/08/01 21:58:25
PM to Korgull 2012/08/02 13:08:48

Yeah, Repubs kill me with the hatred for the government. Every improvement in life in America we've had has come because there has been govenrment oversight. Can you imagine what we'd be eating if we didn't have inspectors? Can you imagine the drugs we'd have on the market if the government didn't have such strenuous regulations? Can you imagine how unsafe products like stoves, irons, toasters, cars, mattresses, etc. would be if companies didn't have the fear of being shut down for not adhering to govenrment standards?

Well, I guess I'll sit here in my OSHA regulated job, and go drink some safe water, and have some breakfast that I'm sure will be safe to eat due to the government oversight. I sure wish the government would stay out of my comfortable life, because I'd like to drink polluted water and get cancer, and eat Salmonela infected food, and work long hours in an unsafe, hot, asbestos ridden environment, but at least I wouldn't have that pesky government watching over me.

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PM to kurtand... 2012/08/02 12:55:01

What is Obamacare? Do you mean the affordable healthcare act? I don't know of any laws named Obamacare?

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kurtand... to PM 2012/08/02 13:09:44

I mean the new, massive Obama-tax disguised as the "affordable healthcare act".

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Glfer65 2012/07/31 15:01:28

Yes

+4
But for many reasons other than obamacare. Fact is it cost more than $200,000 to get a doctors degree in medical fields plus the liability insurance is so high they can't afford the premiums.

If you look at the hospitals with the forms you have to fill it now contains a no liability clause you have to sign before any thing is done. Easy to blame a new system for the shortage but we have had a shortage due to these and more reasons.

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PM to Glfer65 2012/08/02 13:12:07

+1
This is the most sane response I've seen so far. Kudos. Most on here want to attach it to The Affordable Health Care Act (dubbed Obamacare), but we've been having this problem for decades now. As you stated, the liablity premiums are so expensive, and the degree is so expensive, many can't make a profit for many years.

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Glfer65 to PM 2012/08/02 23:02:02

Sadly we have people which I now call ROBOCONS. They believe the ACA is the death knell for the US when in fact it may just save the millions of people that are without coverage.

Preventive check ups are what catches illness and diseases early on in turn lowering the cost of treatment. Yet they (insurance) want you to pay such a high co-pay many do not go as they can't afford it.

If we had courts that refuse to listen to countless frivolous lawsuits based on things that are explained in the waiver forms clearly that ANY surgery or treatment comes with risks and you consent to having it done.

There are 8 big myths about ACA that the right wing and GOP continues to pound saying it is true boggles my mind. My feeling is this system is going to work. How else do explain why Mass is not even thinking of repealing theirs.

Obamacare is the same model as Mass and yet people are not hammering their officials there to repeal it.

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PM to Glfer65 2012/08/06 21:37:06 (edited)

+1
I would have to agree. The healthcare industry is out of control for more than one reason. As you stated, they do not put enough emphasis on preventative medicine. Doctors get paid to prescribe medicine, which brings the Drug industry into the picture adding another level of complexity to this whole problem. Health Insurance companies, in turn try to maximize profits, making a love-hate relationship between them, doctors, and drug companies (each vying for maximized profits). Add to that, Lawyers who like to sue doctors because they are viewed as having deep pockets, and this paves the way for Liability Insurance premiums for doctors to go sky high. Sky high premiums mean doctors now have to charge more for their services and the cycle repeats itself and spirals out of control.

If we don't have the foresight to break the cycle, then our system of health care will eventually fail and what we will be left with will not be to anybody's liking.

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Glfer65 to PM 2012/08/07 15:10:29

But unlike you many see just Obama as destroying the US with his new plan. They fail to see what you mentioned and the severity of the need to reform before we lose total control.
If you have read the latest from Canada they were in fact in trouble with the health care system but the PM or president of the nation hunkered down and did not fold to any I mean ANY political influence to bring it back to solvency.
After that they are back with more things to provide for the people and better service and shorter times for elective procedures (18 weeks). They made it happen because they KNEW it had to be re-evaluated and made the changes without sacrificing any care to their people.
Just think, what we could do and give help to our whole nation?

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Dogzebra 2012/07/31 14:50:14

Yes

+9
My wife has lost two doctors and is now seeing a nurse practitioner at a local women's clinic their are no OB/GYNs in the area. One went back to the Philippines, the other back into teaching, both shared fears of the mess created by obiecare.

My doc sold his practice to a health care provider and is now poised to retire... citing obiecare as his main reason.

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Glfer65 to Dogzebra 2012/07/31 15:04:34

+3
I am sure that he is retiring as the main reason must be up there in age. I really don't think we have the shortage due to mainly a new system in place but due to HIGH cost of getting into the field and the liability cost are what keeps many from entering the practice,

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Dogzebra to Glfer65 2012/08/01 01:22:03

He told me he was losing money paying a medical accountant to deal with all of the paper work, ridiculous insurance premiums and he gave up on filing Illinois Medicaid claims altogether. Both woman doctors cited the same reasons.

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Glfer65 to Dogzebra 2012/08/01 02:59:45

While I agree that medicare has become weighted down with red tape we have to do something NOW. If the GOP has their way it will be another 20 years before they even think about implementing something.

Our system is flat out broken and needs reform. In CA they are already setting up exchanges and ironing out the kinks. Overall this has to happen we can't wait and end up with 40 million uninsured just because a few people think nothing is wrong with the current system.

When other countries with a single payer system has a 85-95% approval rating among their own people that tells you we are going the wrong way.

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Dogzebra to Glfer65 2012/08/01 05:54:51

+1
California hospitals and doctors are going broke because of the homeless and alien influx.

I've seen plenty of info that differs with the approval ratings you quote regarding health care in countries with socialized medicine. Our gov and obiecare is definitely the wrong way to go.

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Glfer65 to Dogzebra 2012/08/01 15:21:52

Look if you can come up with something better tell the government. Otherwise if we stayed with the old system it would be worse. How would you like to end up paying for your full share with your company? They decide they can no longer afford to pay your premiums and just take on a plan that you have to pay??

Then on top of that after you pay the $500-1200/mo premium you go to a doctor and have to pay a co-pay of $25 just to see him. Nice to see everyone complaining but not offering a real solution.

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Dogzebra to Glfer65 2012/08/01 17:18:32

ditto

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Glfer65 to Dogzebra 2012/08/01 21:15:58

Remember those who complain people want FREE health care fail to understand those who want it WANT to pay into an affordable plan that actually protects them in cases of emergency without draining their wallets and savings.

Bankruptcies account for 65% of them due to medical expenses they can't afford to pay but not because they don't want to but simple they had to choose.

Either die or lose a loved one and save money or get them the care they need to live. Obviously those people are more about people than money. While the insurance industry seems to care about the dollar over the life.

Give the people a proper plan that really protects them and gives them incentives for yearly check ups to catch major illness' before they become hard to manage at a higher cost.

We are going backwards, the other countries are smarter they promote checkups and preventive care and make very low to nothing in turn saves millions of dollars to them.

Also, in Europe and Canada they are living longer than us.

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StanKerr to Glfer65 2012/08/01 15:13:06

+1
85-95% approval doesn't mean fiscally sound. People just like getting 'free' care even if it's of poor quality. Those other countries have their own issues and problems sustaining socialist care. The Brits love their National Health Service and they still have bad teeth. See the new Cato book 'Replacing Obamacare'.

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Glfer65 to StanKerr 2012/08/01 15:33:10

This is a very common perception from the US people that do not research the places that have it. And NO they do not get free health care. They all pay into it which is another common perception the RWNJ's make claim too.

In Swiss they pay and gladly I might add to have health care, nice roads, police, fire, safety, all the other city and country systems are for all the people not a select few.

Canada the same way and yes theirs along with others are not perfect and they never claim to be. However, their systems do in fact help 100% of the people and they are happy and they live longer than us.

So again tell me why is it when people make valid arguments about other systems that DO work and have high approval ratings always make up lies to support their arguments?

Why is it we spend 17% of the GDP to cover only 15% of the US people why others pay around 8% of their GDP to cover 100% and it truly does?

Also, if you have an emergency it truly is taken care of just like any in the ER no horror stories of anyone bleeding out because they had to wait. Elective surgeries are about 18 weeks as recorded in Canada.

Life threatening conditions are treated right there and no referral from a doctor is required, Add to the fact the doctors are paid by the government the government is NOT allowed ...

This is a very common perception from the US people that do not research the places that have it. And NO they do not get free health care. They all pay into it which is another common perception the RWNJ's make claim too.

In Swiss they pay and gladly I might add to have health care, nice roads, police, fire, safety, all the other city and country systems are for all the people not a select few.

Canada the same way and yes theirs along with others are not perfect and they never claim to be. However, their systems do in fact help 100% of the people and they are happy and they live longer than us.

So again tell me why is it when people make valid arguments about other systems that DO work and have high approval ratings always make up lies to support their arguments?

Why is it we spend 17% of the GDP to cover only 15% of the US people why others pay around 8% of their GDP to cover 100% and it truly does?

Also, if you have an emergency it truly is taken care of just like any in the ER no horror stories of anyone bleeding out because they had to wait. Elective surgeries are about 18 weeks as recorded in Canada.

Life threatening conditions are treated right there and no referral from a doctor is required, Add to the fact the doctors are paid by the government the government is NOT allowed to interfere with his process of taking care of his patients.

That means they have no death panels no suits telling them what they can and can't do even if it is a special treatment.
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Heisenberg 2012/07/31 14:44:01

Yes

+9
I know two doctors. One is retiring and the second is leaving her practice.

I guess we can always import doctors from Bangladesh like the British did.

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thefatguy to Heisenberg 2012/07/31 17:07:08

+6
My college roommate became a physician. He was a die-hard Democrat and voted for Obie. After he found out Obamacare was going to affect his wallet, he started rethinking his views. I'd like to think I had some influence too!

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Tim Upham to Heisenberg 2012/07/31 18:00:59

+2
You know why doctors from places such as Bangladesh practice in the United States? They get paid more, than practicing medicine in their home countries. It is what is known as a "brain drain."

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Soundstorm to Heisenberg 2012/07/31 23:45:52 (edited)

See here! What goes on there? What's all this now?

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