In the final scene of the movie Schindler’s List, Oskar Schindler, a German businessman, laments that although he saved over a thousand people from death at the hands of the Nazis, he didn’t help enough. “I could have done more” is a line that has now become a classic.
Talking to physicians in recent months, I’ve heard similar self-reproach. Doctors are very hard on themselves. High standards are part of your hardwiring, and if you fall short, your self-image of being a really good doctor takes a hit. continues…
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From Medical Economics magazine, more on medical profession ...
As we enter the 35th anniversary year of Roe v. Wade, the online journal Salon.com has an interview with GP Susan Wicklund, who has been providing abortion services for 20 years, most recently in her own clinic in rural Montana. The writer, after noting that 87 percent of US counties are currently without an abortion provider, continues:
“Wicklund describes her work as a privilege and an honor. But it’s also a job, often a dangerous one. She has donned disguises to get past the protesters who scream and wave signs outside both her home and her medical office. She’s worn a bulletproof vest and carried a gun. In some states, Wicklund is required to read abortion patients misleading, politician-penned scripts that refer to an embryo as an “unborn baby” and warn that the procedure can be fatal (with no mention of the fact that wisdom tooth removal is far riskier).”
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From Medical Economics magazine, more on medical profession ...
The Observer, a community newspaper located in Dunkirk, NY, 45 miles southwest of Buffalo, has an item about a state initiative aimed at luring physicians to underserved communities. The article quotes Brooks Memorial Hospital president and CEO Richard Ketcham:
“The reasons that relatively few physicians choose to live and practice in rural areas are varied but include, among other reasons, professional isolation, limited or no availability for back up call coverage, few job opportunities for spouses, and lover income potential.”
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From Medical Economics magazine, more on finding a job ...
Most physicians responding to a new study agreed that they should report medical errors to their hospital or healthcare organization to improve patient safety. However, doctors feel that the current systems used to report and share information about errors are inadequate. Instead, they rely on informal discussions with their colleagues to convey and assess these incidents, according to a new study funded by HHS’ Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. continues…
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From Medical Economics magazine, more on medical profession ...
We’re [not] number one! We’re [far from] number one!
A study published in the online edition of the British Medical Journal showed patient-physician time in the US is about half the average of New Zealand and one-third of Australia.
“The substantially shorter time per capita in the US was the biggest difference we saw in our study. Such a severe shortfall impacts preventive care and management of chronic conditions in the US and could explain why the US does not achieve health outcomes that correspond to its higher level of investment in health care,” said study lead author Andrew Bindman, MD, of the University of California, San Francisco.
Other interesting findings: continues…
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From Medical Economics magazine, more on medical profession ...
Louisiana is trying to make serving post-Katrina New Orleans as attractive as possible to doctors, offering incentives of up to $100,000, including student loan repayments and income guarantees.
Many doctors have left the area citing the high cost of malpractice and business insurance and the large population of uninsured patients.
Grant program seeks to lure, keep doctors in post-Katrina N.O. [Via New Orleans Times-Picayune]
Grants aim to cure exodus of doctors [Via New Orleans Times-Picayune]
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From Medical Economics magazine, more on medical profession ...
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