Medical red tape causes more doctors, patients to explore alternative health care
By Melissa Borgerding
THE ERICKSON TRIBUNE
The U.S. is facing the worst doctor shortage in decades, with fewer younger doctors stepping in to fill the shoes of older, retiring physicians. While U.S. Census Bureau statistics place the U.S. population at more than 301 million and growing, only 25,000 new doctors enter the field each year.
For adults of retirement age, who comprise the fastest-growing percentage of the population, the doctor shortage is particularly troubling. With many new doctors opting for more lucrative fields like sports medicine rather than geriatrics or family practice, America’s fastestgrowing population may soon face a lack of physicians with the specific knowledge and experience to care for them.
More patients, less time
From frustration with managed care to soaring malpractice rates to exhaustion, doctors are leaving their practices for a variety of reasons, while new doctors are deterred from ever entering into practice. With so much of today’s medicine revolving around the business, insurance, and other “red tape” aspects of care, many doctors find themselves spending less time with patients and more time with paperwork.
Estimates suggest that the average primary care physician today sees between 2,000 and 4,000 patients each year. Unfortunately, the high cost of maintaining a practice coupled with shrinking reimbursement rates from insurance providers and Medicare make it necessary for some practices to take on a greater number of patients just to break even. Such a high volume of patients makes it nearly impossible to provide personalized care.
“I became a doctor because I want to help people with their medical needs,” says Dr. William Featherston, physician at Highland Springs. He says he spends much less time with insurance companies now than he did in his previous practice, where he had to choose several ones with which to participate instead of one.