Where have all the doctors gone?

[Anonymous]

I know that pandemic burn out drove many doctors to quit and that’s why it’s so hard to get an appointment these days. But where did they go? Was it just older docs who retired early and women who became SAHMs? Or other jobs like working for insurance companies?

[Anonymous]

I think a lot went to telemedicine.

[Anonymous]

There are more doctors and mid-levels, but there are a lot of old people and medical hysterics who are just looking for attention. That's not going to change, so we're going to need even more doctors.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think a lot went to telemedicine.

No, that doesn't pay very well. That is almost always done as a side job when it is done outside their normal practice.

[Anonymous]

We are still here, but we reduced our hours for sanity and people want more appointments than ever, so….

[Anonymous]

Cut back to 24hr a week now that med school loans are paid off. Enjoying having a life again. I’d work 40 hours if patients weren’t so miserable and management didn’t try to cram my schedule way past full.

[Anonymous]

I think many do not take Insurance..they just cater to those who can pay out of pocket.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think many do not take Insurance..they just cater to those who can pay out of pocket.

Very, very few. How out-of-touch do you have to be to think many people can pay out-of-pocket?

[Anonymous]

The secret is that many doctors are dual income so it’s not hard to reduce work hours and have a decent life. I’m planning to work only 1 day a week to keep my sanity. My husband is a lawyer and we keep our expenses low. If I had to work full time I’d leave medicine all together

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Cut back to 24hr a week now that med school loans are paid off. Enjoying having a life again. I’d work 40 hours if patients weren’t so miserable and management didn’t try to cram my schedule way past full.

What makes the patients miserable? I mean, specifics in terms of behavior thet shouldn't be doing.

[Anonymous]

I know quite a few who work part time.

[Anonymous]

My PCP went concierge. I begrudgingly pay the $2000 fee because she is really responsive and good at coordinating the rest of my care.

I had three specialists retire in the last year. All Boomer-age. So I’m assuming that some of this is just the effects of the Boomers aging out of the workforce, like people have been saying for years.

And I imagine patients are awful because people are generally awful.

[Anonymous]

Mine keep disappearing into concierge to make bigger bucks and avoid regular people.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think many do not take Insurance..they just cater to those who can pay out of pocket.

Very, very few. How out-of-touch do you have to be to think many people can pay out-of-pocket?

I don't need many people. I just need some. I don't take insurance though some of my patients self submit the bills. Life is so much better. It's the future for those that can afford it. Others will wait to see the doctors that take it.

[Anonymous]

I think my GP and my kids’ pediatrician are both part team, seems very common these days, more than a few years ago.