I have an appointment coming up in two weeks to see my doctor and I am not looking forward to it. Not that there’s anything wrong with me (that I know of), it’s just that I have a new Primary Care Physician (PCP) and I just really miss my old doctor.
I wrote a column a few years ago when my doctor retired. I’m sure others can relate as the older we get, the older they get and our doctor’s decide to retire. I understand that and they definitely deserve to enjoy life but it’s just so tough to replace them.
Nothing against my new doctor but it’s just not the same.
I had my previous doctor for well over thirty years. He knew me. We’ve been through so much together. He knew my history and he knew my tendencies and my wonderful metabolic disease that I wrote about in my book. When you have to start all over again with a new doctor it’s just not the same.
Before he retired, my former doctor selected his replacement to take over his clients and he told me that he would be briefing “the new guy” on certain patients, of which I was assured I was one of those patients. I’ve been to the new guy a few times but it’s just not the same. I feel like I always have to remind him of my history even though I’m sure it’s in my chart. The give-and-take just isn’t the same. And the joking back and forth? Well let’s just say we’re not at that point yet.
I see more and more examples of how our medical care in this country is so messed up. Sure I hear stories from my wife, the paramedic, that make me shake my head but I’ve seen it myself with the different doctors and different health care groups that I go to. Either one won’t talk to the other or they question, “Why did he do that? Why not this?” And it seems there are always issues with the insurance company.
“Did you get a referral?”
“That medication is not covered”
“Why do you want to see that specialist when we have our own doctor you can see?”
Oh and don’t get me started about the ridiculous deductible we have to pay before the benefits kick in.
Have I ever told you my theory about our health care system? It’s the same theory I have about our military and the government actually.
I think these services have just gotten so large that nobody knows how to run things anymore. What was once manageable has just grown so big that the old ways of doing things just can’t work.
Then there’s the issue of privatization. “We must make a profit!” I’ve had some conversations with doctors and they’ve told me the unbelievable time limits that are put on them. They are supposed to have us in and out of that exam room, in some cases, in under ten minutes. Not all of them but some.
If you are struggling to find a doctor you like or a new one if your PCP is retiring I don’t have very good news for you. In fact, the American Medical Association (AMA) is already talking about the growing national physician shortage. The Association of American Medical Colleges is predicting the United States will face a physician shortage of up to 86,000 physicians by 2036.
Why the shortage? Simple: Money. Specifically compensation.
A story last year from CBS News stated, “The system that Medicare and other health plans use to pay doctors generally places more value on doing procedures like replacing a knee or inserting a stent than on delivering the whole-person, long-term health care management that primary care physicians provide.”
Will the system change? I think it has too. Let’s hope the system can be fixed before it’s too late.
In the meantime, if you have a doctor you’re happy with… cherish that. (And maybe share his/her name.) Appreciate them while you still have them.
For me? I’ll keep trying to break in the new guy. It probably took me a while to get to know my former doctor… I just don’t remember it.
Catch up on previous Sunday Columns by clicking here.
Leave a Reply