I recall 20 or more years ago, just after managed care was getting off the ground and health care was changing in a very negative way. I had nothing serious to see docs about, kept up with annual visits/procedures. Other than that, thankfully I did not visit docs much. I did begin noticing that they were rushed and their offices more overcrowded than usual. One ortho, who I was seeing for the first time for pain beneath the shoulder blade, basically slid out of the room after about 5 min, talking to me while in the doorway as I struggled like a fool to ask the few questions I had.
A couple of months after that, I read an article in the Washington Post Health section written by an internist in N Va, He went on and on about how docs had to overcome their anger and frustration with the health care system and remember why they were docs. He encouraged readers to take a list of questions and ask every last one to their satisfaction. I thought, "This guy is great. I wish docs would find a way to relax and take a little more time. What if I or one of my fam members has a serious illness? Is the doc going to throw me out like the ortho did?"
About a year later, I sat in the exam room with a highly respected endoc I had decided to see. I thought perhaps my lifelong anxiety was a result of a endocrine issue. She yakked and yakked and yakked about the evils of managed care and how she was starting an advocacy group of her peers to try and legally push back on HMO's, etc. How unfair it was to DOCS. Not a word about patients.
Of course, since that time, docs have changed greatly. I understand their complaints. I have watched, for example, my cardio change from a lovely, caring gentleman (20 + years ago) into a still OK person who is very smart and clinically could be among the best. However, with his patient load, far too heavy due to the demands of insurance and personal financial gain of the large cardio group he's with, he's not able to care for me the way he used to. It's very frightening. And all of my docs are like this.
They are doing what's best for THEM. The humanity is GONE.
This article inflamed me. It's even worse than the WAPO article from 2 yrs ago in that after 2 very scary stories that only make me wish there was a Kevorkian on every corner, she goes into the same "fixes" from the WAPO article of 25 years ago:
Ask your questions....(sure)
Request help with coordination from the dr's office (not gonna happen)
Get your meds reduced - I am ALL for that, but docs are going to be hard pressed to do this because meds usu
come from many other docs and *that* is complicated.
Etc, ad nauseum.
Things are only getting worse. I am tired of feeling like I have to kiss my docs' rings. They provide a service they chose. They accepted and signed an oath and damned few of any I know are fulfilling it. I try to be a "good" patient and they take advantage of it. The outspoken patients get the grease and the rest of us get the short straw.
More and more, if you haven't noticed, are opting out of Medicare. One doc told a friend of mine she could have the "Medicare" checkup or pay for a real one.
Do I have to use my savings for a boutique doc or is my plea for thousands of Kevorkians the only way? I won't spend the rest of this life feeling like my doc wishes I would just die because it's too much trouble to deal with an older person's issues.