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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]My main issue with doctors is not the arrogance, though that does exist. My issue is that many of them are quick to prescribe drugs, despite that many health issues could be combated with dietary changes. I would like for doctors to focus more on diet and less on drugs.

A question for the medical types on this board - I have heard that medical school includes a laughably small amount of instruction on diet. Is this true?

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Not really we had a mini course on nutrition. And we do learn about nutrition aspects relevant to our specialty during residency. However, practically speaking, medical school does not spend time educating people in professions that are staffed by non-doctors and hospitals routinely employ registered dieticians who have degrees in nutrition, so we incorporate them into a multifaceted team. Other things doctors don’t learn: dentistry, podiatry, physical therapy, respiratory therapy, speech therapy. Bc those are all degree programs and we work collaboratively with the appropriate licensed professional who does that.[/quote]

Understood but it just seems weird that a healthcare professional would learn so little about one of the most important tools to manage your health. And I’m not sure how it works in hospitals, but my PCP works in a private practice and does not appear to be working as part of a multifaceted team. Pretty sure they do not have a dietician or nutritionist on staff, and my sense is that many practices are like that. I suppose they could always refer me out but still the whole thing seems odd.
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I’m a dietitian and one problem is that insurance reimbursement for dietitians is pretty low, so it’s hard to incorporate them into a practice. Medicare will only pay dietitians for treating diabetes and kidney disease (and only for obesity if they’re working in addition to a MD). Private insurance will reimburse dietitians for other conditions but it can be a hassle to ensure the payment. Patients usually can’t or won’t pay out of pocket for nutrition.[/quote]

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